Kat817

I spent the day cooking about the same meal that Tracy did!! Was good....but I am really tired, this cold/sinus infection is kicking my butt! Due dates.....yesterday my DD was due, and no sign of a baby yet!! DIL looks to be due in early August....maybe late July. Rick's birthday is the 3rd of August, so that would be cool!!! I didn't get any email from you either Pamela---if you sent one out I mean. Manda's sister is going to stay with Kinsey at their place tomorrow, so I can sleep in, and maybe feel better. I have no idea what my MIL does to black eyed peas, they end up strong tasting, and kind of dry to the feel of them in my mouth, like a lima bean---if that makes any sense. Mine on the other hand!!! There is not the strong taste, they are VERY similar to a pinto bean----and are moist feeling....but my soup is always thin---hers is thick, really heavy. I prefer mine!!! So does Rick, of course we are smart enough never to say that!!! I am having a little difficulty convincing my husband that I am going to be having liquids only for the next 2 days----he is NOT happy with that idea!! He is all on board for watching the diet, and cutting the sugar and carbs----but he is also off for the next 3 days and had plans for us to go out etc..... He has joined into a weigh down at work, he wants to drop 14 pounds....and he will do that in 2 weeks time, with watching his diet and working out----life is so unfair!!! Anyway, we will see how it goes. Not sure about the pouch test with me wide open, if it will tell me anything or not. I have ZERO restriction. Nothing gets stuck, and no PB's or sliming, nothing at all! If I choose to go through with it now as opposed to when he goes back to work, he will support me, I know he will, but he will stress over #1 me not eating, and #2 over him eating in front of me, and he will not want me cooking for him. He was all for it, when he thought I started it Monday, he figured he would eat at lunch, and have soup with me for dinner.....maybe he just needs time to wrap his head around it! My son has his DD and step son from his first marriage for the remainder of the weekend. So I guess they planned on going to a local pizza place. Which is always ok with me, because they have a really great salad bar....no damn wonder I was so fat! Well, I am off to bed....the idea of the soft mattress and cool sheets is too appealling to deny myself any longer!!! See ya tomorrow girls. Kat

Mot a great start to the New Year....DH and I are both sick, and I cannot sleep.....However, I do know it could be a lot worse.....and with being unable to sleep, I DID see the New Year in!!! Scared the crap outta me! Someone nearby set off firecrackers, and my dog landed on me when I was not expecting him....little chicken!!!! Happy New Year Everyone, lets make it a great 2009!!! Kat

Well we are home! I think Rick is coming down with the flu! He is hurting all over, and is running a fever, is already in bed. My throat is hurting, and I am nothing but a whiny mess! So it seemed the wise thing to do to just come home! We come home, got in our jammies, and vegged out in front of the fire, Rick just headed to bed, and I am checking in here. Thanks for the mood boosters. This is really strange for me, not sure how to shake it....but I will. Maybe it is partly from this cold or virus or whatever going on. My throat glands are enormous, and I'm all sniffly---what a wonderful way to spend New Years, a housefull of people and both of us sick! Wooo Hooo!!! When someone texts Jenn---let her know I am thinking of her, and praying all goes well! Love Ya Jenn! Nice car Laura, looks like my DD's! So far no labor on my VERY pregnant DD. OMG she is so big! And it is ALL belly! Her poor belly button has totally popped out! She keeps asking me if it will go back....I tell her I think so, I have no experience!!! DIL is going through the first weeks, where all you want to do is sleep! And my son gets his daughter and her brother from his first marriage for the weekend beginning tomorrow! She is so nervous! My MIL was telling me how bad she felt for my DIL that she is in the hardest position of all......telling ME all about the situation. She who has been married for 63 years, has never been a step parent, or had their child have a step parent.....never dealt with a single step child, or step siblings or half siblings for her kids. ALL of which I have done, and she is trying to tell me how it is! PUHLEEZE!!! It IS stressful, and I know she is scared and wants it all to turn out---but she is a good hearted girl, if anything she is way to kind and tolerant with kids, so they will have a great time! She is mostly concerned with lack of space. I told her not to worry about that! Make a giant fort in the bedroom, and let them all campout in sleeping bags.....pop in a movie, pop some popcorn, and join them! Can't wait to spend some time with the kids, but we don't want to horn in either, we know they want and need time alone with them, and with my inlaws being so close, I am SURE they --- well my MIL will be right in the middle of things. Not in a mean way, just because she too wants to be with the kids. Pamela was tonight your big bash with the famous folk??? Your package......Rick says a padded envelope will not work, part of it will break---so, it is now in a box---better safe than sorry! Will be headed your way Friday. Well, I am going to go light a couple of candles, and soak in the tub.......I end up in the tub 3-4 times a day when I feel bad! See y'all next year. Love you all, and am so excited to go into a new year with you----I love that we have all remained here through the year!!! Kat

Hi girls~ Just a bumming around today, literally and figuratively. Feeling really down....teary eyed for no real reason at all. Yet it feels like a thousand reasons.... We have a party tonight, and I am really not in the party mood. Spent the evening out at my in laws with my BIL & his wife, we had a fun time, played Mexican Sweat dominoes, and laughed a lot. Kinsey will be leaving shortly then I have several errands to run. Will check in as I can. Travel safe Judy, hope your team wins big! Laura glad you are back! Count me in for the 2nd or 3rd whenever we opt to do it.....I can't anymore than fail! LOL I am getting quite used to the stop start crap! I need a 5 day mind test, I think my pouch is just fine and dandy! BBL~~ Kat Kat

I want to Terry....buthave serious doubts to my ability to do liquids for 2 days. I am at a point I am afraid to try knowing I will fail yet another start! I have an appointment to see my PCP on Thursday afternoon, to see what my options are with these steroids. I am at my wits end. There are times I feel like if one of my grandkids was standing there with a cheeseburger---I'd rip it out of their hands! This is not really hunger so much as a compulsion to EAT! I am fully aware it may all be in my head.....but either way it is getting the best of me way to frequently. So Suzanne and I may be on dueling couches at the psychiatrists office!!! I managed to eat like a pig and maintain a low carb plan yesterday....and somewhat the day before. I have eliminated most of the sugar from the house, which helped. There are still several bags of chocolate, but they went into the freezer.... So far this morning I have kept it low carb as well with scrambled egg with ham and cheese. Hoping if I allow myself to eat at will, and eat LC, maybe the aftermath of weight will not be so great. I seriously need to update my ticker....to show my backslide, but the fact is....I don't wanna!!!! LOL I think the roads are cleared enough today to take the dog walking. And I am getting on the ellipticHELL if it kills me today......I cannot believe how out of shape I have allowed myself to become! I used to be able to do the 20 minute program on the machine without stopping....I made 7 minutes the other day and my legs felt like wet noodles! So, my head is in the game again--------not really the game I had planned on playing, but this is the hand I was dealt so here we go!!! I hope to stick to THE rules and not make my own up as I go!!! BBL~~ Kat Oh and btw my DD and her DH went out to dinner with us, oh my gosh she looks soooooo miserable! I give her a hug and told her I loved her, and I was sorry she wasn't feeling good, that maybe that was a sign of imminent labor. To which my A$$ hole SIL replied that he was quite sure eventually labor WAS imminent, but it was just not happening now! I told him oh I was sorry I had not realized HE was the obstetrician!!! He told me she was just tired from too many obligations and going all the time. I pointed out that the restaurant we were in was 3 blocks from her house, and she was not having to cook, and it was a lot closer than his parents, and I understood that they were there EVERY day! He told me well this would be their first grandchild and they were excited. I told him this would be the first child for and grandchild from Abbey, and we too were excited, and I rubbed her belly--------the tips of his ears turned purple!!! I am sure if it is up to him, we will not know anything about the baby until he is born and his parents have had a chance to get there and hold him....THEN he might notify us. Now Abbey will earlier if she is able. I actually made a joke of rubbing both her and my DIL at once and said something about being a stereo Granny. He just refused to look. I imagine him going home and dousing her belly with Lysol-get my germs off!!!!

Haydee is on vacation, and not sure about Laura, I got an email about a fairy sale I found, so I know she is around.....might have been super busy with the back to work thing. Pamela, I was going to mail yours today....I needed to get a padded envelope......and wellllllll that didn't happen!! Went to lunch with my DIL, and grandkids, and she was acting kinda strange, but then son and a co worker showed up, so I let it go. After lunch we separated, I was headed to Albertsons, and she to Walmart. At the last minute I thought I would go to Walmart, and see if she wanted me to take Connor until we got together tonight. Rick's brother and his wife are in from Denver, so we had dinner plans. So I went in Walmart, was going to grab the 3 things I needed, then call her and find her to see about taking my DGS. One of the things I needed was Prilosec OTC----as I turned down the aisle for it, I see her at the end so I went up to her, and the look on her face was PRICELESS!!! She was buying a pregnancy test! So........+++++++++! Which means we have a DD due any day and a DIL and son just starting the pregnancy journey again!!! Anyway I lost all my thoughts, and did not remember to buy the envelope!! Going to look around here and will get it off tomorrow one way or another! This will be grandchild #5 or #6 if you include the little guy from sons first marriage that we claim! So we had dinner out, had some fish. Still keep telling myself I can do this, and keep screwing up! Welcome to my world Jane-----no fill. I was ok prior to the steroids---they are killing me and I look sooooo fat again, my face is gross to even look at. It is messing with my head in a big way. I do not mean to sound full of myself, but for the first time in many years maybe ever( I didn't appreciate how well I looked when I was younger!!!)---I was not ashamed of how I looked, I did not pose for pics, but I didn't run from the camera. I felt proud of what I had done. Now when I catch a glimpse of myself, it is so upsetting, I look like I never lost weight. I know in my body I still have, my big clothes are still big, and most of my new ones while tighter, still fit ok----but my face is horrid! I saw Christmas pics, and wanted to cry! Oh well, this too shall pass. NO more whining! Please let us know what you hear from the Dr. Jane! Well, I am going to go surf awhile, and maybe answer some new posts, I always forget to do that!!! Some moderator I am!!! LOL Talk to y'all in the morning! Kat

g4e, first of all ALL children I have been around behave totally different when parents show up! I ran a full fledged daycare for 20 years, and it is common! I just went through what you are not long ago. When my DD first left her husband she and my year old granddaughter moved in with us. So I had a baby in the house 24/7 after all those years!! She stayed that time for 3 months, while we remodelled a place she bought. Well fast forward 2.5 years and some scary health issues for her, and she decided to reconcile with her ex. That lasted only a few months. 2 weeks ago, she tells me that she and my now 4 year old DGD are moving out again. This time tho, she only stayed a couple of nights, while waiting for utilities to be turned on in her new place. When my son moved back to this area, he, his wife, and infant son stayed with us for about 3 weeks. Now THAT was difficult!!!! He was off at work, and I am left with a young woman I am barely learning and unsure about how or whether to offer advice....was stressful, but loved having the baby here!!!! In the end, she was VERY easy going, my DIL---but you can TELL your own kids things that you don't when it is their spouse!!! I could TELL him to pick up the dirty dishes, or to take poopy diapers directly to the outside trash--------but with the DIL, I was less sure, and not wanting to come across as the bitchy MIL!!! Good Luck!!!! Susan--tell us a bit about your 16 yo. What does she like to do? How many kids? girls only? boys and girls? Time line? Expense? Well off to take the aforementioned DIL and DGS to Taco Bell----will the fun never end??? Or the eat fest???? I actually do ok there.......which is wierd! Kat

Good morning~ Had to come in here and get a dose of Violets! Been sitting here paying bills, how depressing! Kinsey is STILL sleeping! She spent part of the weekend with her Dad, his Mom was off finally so they had their Christmas. With his "new girlfriend" and her girls. The new girlfriend is an old girlfriend resurrected....he is really mourning! LOL Anyway, for the most part Kinsey likes them, she says one of the little girls is mean to her sometimes. And as much as we want to step in, she says she makes mean faces at her and won't let her play with her toys. So that is something she is going to have to adjust to. But the girls are both older than she is, not by a lot, but she keeps up with them, and does not nap. Then when she gets home she is exhausted. She wanted to go sleep in my bed, so we went in, and she snuggled up tight, and was out, so we both snoozed for awhile, and then I wiggled out---------and she sleeps on. I'll give her another half an hour, and begin making noise so she wakes! Pamela, what pride you must be feeling! To finish your dissertation! You know we are all so proud of you. I remember you battling whether to attempt it or not....you DID it! Well that is a good reason for finding an "Attagirl" surprise in your mail box!!! TracyK---what are you thinking about going back to school for? I have contemplated classes here and there, but never pushed myself!!! I even thought about renewing my certifications, and shrugged that off as well!!! I had to get my degree in early childhood education in order to license myself in a privately owned Day Care. But it is not something I am interested in doing now! Sad but true! While I LOVE kids---I do not want to work with them all day every day, and not be too tired of kids to want my grandkids. I have a friend here who is a pharmacist, he has been after me to take some classes and come to work for him, he said it is almost impossible to keep decent help. Years ago, that might have interested me....not so much now!!! LOL TracyKS---I too am looking into a fill later in the week or next week. The scheduler is supposed to call me back. They know I drive a long way for it, so they usually fit me in as needed, they are really good. I told her, I want the fill, and I do NOT want to get on the scale when I hit the office. She says "that bad?" I said "that bad!" Jane, no VS bras for me. We do not have a local store, and buying bras online does not work for me, unless it is a brand I can try on locally then order. I think it is secondary infection from scratching my hives. Which are behind my knee and up my right thigh....and has me sitting in the chair wiggling like I have ants in my pants! Had a BIG single hive on my eyelid last night.....I am thinking if they are maybe stress related, that holidays gone, the stress will ease. But going to talk to my Dr. about maybe trying some sort of happy pills, I would prefer that if that would "de stress" my life some, than the prednisone----I have been on it over a month now, and still having hives! Refilling my Rx is what made me stand and talk about my options with my friend the pharmacist!!! All I got out of the conversation was a job offer!! Terry, I wish I could take Potter to a dog park and let him go! He gets in our back yard, which is big, and runs in HUGE circles!! He tends to circle as I walk around out there, he runs in circles around me. He is crazy!!! He is not allowed on the furniture, so he has taken over Kinseys little foam Dora chair!!! She does not sit much in it, so I let him have it!! He has a cushy dog bed, but much prefers to sit on my feet. And he snores as badly as my DH!!! Do they make CPAP machines for dogs? Ones with smushed up noses??!!! Some woman called Manda from the vets office wanting to talk to her about using him as a stud. Since he is papered, or registered. And here I am talking about getting him cut!! LOL Suzanne, does dreaming about red ribbons mean anything??? I only remember sifting through a box of hair things and picking out the red ones. Judy, at my DD's baby shower they just had (as wierd as it was!) they had a table full of plain onesies, and a tray with fabric paint and fabric paint pens.....and let anyone who wanted to decorate a onesie for the baby. Some did really cute things, others were about as talented as I am, and they were not great, but they were all one of a kind!!! We bought my boots yesterday---we actually had a really nice day. Kinsey was with her Dad, and it was just my DD and I--------not something that happens often! She lives in her Uggs. In fact the first pair she has were mine, and she fell in love with them, now she has 3 pair. She wanted to buy me some more----for just comfy casual wear. I mean I have snow boots (brand new ones) and I have way too many pairs of ropers (cowboy boots--lotsa colors!)_, and I have a couple of pair of dress boots. So she wanted me to have what she wanted!!! I ended up getting Bear Paws, which are the same type, suede boots with sheerling lining....but these are western styled!! Love them!! Boot crossovers! Well it is time for me to go make some noise so the girl wakes up, so she can sleep tonight!!! Will talk to you later!! Hope Haydee is having lots of fun!!!!! Kat

I did a debt free class a few years ago, when we paid off our house. I saw the course offered through the community college, so went. I paid everything off--we lived totally debt free, minus monthly utilities, phone, etc. And the bogus child support. Then Rick had the mitral valve failure.... Aii-yi-yi!!! Now we have been awash in medical bills ever since! Normally an in network out of pocket max for us would be $2750.00 per year. That would be sooooo easy! BUT since DH's company is headquartered in TX, we have BCBS of TX. So every single Dr. or hospital we go to is out of network. And our locals do not accept assignment of anything. So, my max out of pocket for accepted medical charges is $15,000.00 per year. Which we have met for the last 4 years. Then right in the middle of that, his ex come up with the deal of her wanting maintenance.....add well over $50K for attorney fees, I hate the state of Colorado!!! She worked for her attorney and they appealled every single decision made.....they pushed every kind of paper imaginable at us. And either you answer it, or you agree to it...so we ended up paying through the nose, just to end up without a single solitary change in anything! BUT---while I should have used my money for paying some of this crap--I got banded, and am much better capable mentally of dealing with it now! I am using the same plan to pay off medical crap. Add to it, that I had surgery 3 times in the last year, and the bills keep rolling in! I have a running list, of smallest to largest, as well as interest rates on some figured in. I make payments until one is paid off, then I add that to the next, and slowly but surely they get paid off.....lately just for a new batch to show up, but hey--I FEEL like I am making headway sometimes!!! I learned a lot in the class, and I also took one on saving money in the home. A better way to shop--that kind of thing. It made me VERY concious of how I wasted food, and supplies. I like how I do it now better!! DD is here, gotta go!!! Boots here I come! Kat

Beth, I'd do something like ask if they minded if I got in that room for a few minutes, as I need to measure to see if the crib is going to go where I think it will or not, and to make sure the room is baby proofed. POINT BLANK it tells them the baby is going to be IN that room. If it is mentioned, and you cannot say simply "you gotta go" which I couldn't either, I would tell them, that you hate to do it, but you are going to have to move them to the other room on a couple of air mattresses, as your son in law has a bad back, or what ever!!! But hopefully when they realize they ARE losing the room, they will adjust plans. I'd play it off like they should have realized it, or that I thought DH had mentioned it....whatever, but not act like it was a questionable thing, just that your kids WILL be in that room. There is the old saying that Guests like Fish begin to stink after 3 days or something like that, that I am too lazy to look up for sure!!! LOL Good Luck! Kat

Pamela~~~ Keep watching the PO Box!!!!!!!!!!! Jenn you were given awesome advice. Time to put you and the kids first. I know you cannot afford therapy---and while religion may not be part of the problem, many pastors, preachers, just church leaders in general will offer some counseling free of charge. Maybe getting in closer touch with a higher power will give YOU the power you need to move on. You are in a big city area as well, you should be able to find a support group without a problem! Even if you join a divorce support group, since it is the end of a relationship---you would be among like situationed people and be able to vent, and get ideas for moving on. You just have to take the steps. And every single step will take you further from the hold he has on you, and closer to a new you! One who is happy with herself! Going shopping with my DD Manda today. She is buying me new boots. And buying herself some new snow boots like I got the other day! Part of my Christmas from her is my boots, which of course you have to try on, so she wrapped me an empty boot box!! She had a note taped to the bottom, inside of the box that said "To be filled at your soonest convenience~ I love you!" So today is the day! She bought me a burgundy sweater I had been eyeing as well---so wierd I opened it, and thought there was no way it would fit, and it did! Even with all the weight I have gained! I also got coupons!!! Saying that she would muck stalls for me, and throw hay.......that alone makes her a keeper!!! LOL Thought about using that--since it is 1 degree outside right now.....but they can stay in the stalls today, and I will worry about them tomorrow! Rick will throw hay when he heads in from work....guess that makes him a keeper too! I have scratched hives under my left breast, until they are raw, and now scabbed over---and I have hives there again. It is a no win place. Either my bra sits on it, or my boob sits and sweats on it.....I just wish these would go away! I am not going to even go where my pie hole report would be this morning.....to sad and embarrassing. Terry, I wore my earrings the day after Christmas when we did some shopping, and had a couple of different people ask me if they were a new gift, and say how pretty they were. I told them a friend made them, and told them about Etsy. I love them! Michelle, your Christmas card with all the different pics was cute!!! TracyK--what does Macy think about being out of school for so long? I remember Megan ( one of my special "MY" kids) thinking it was over. She was finished. No more school. EVER!!!!! LOL Well, I have had my shower, and applied my war paint....need to get dressed....warmly! It is such a dilemma! It is freezing cold outside, wind is blowing and thermometer says 1 degree, so with windchill it is well below zero. So you HAVE to have a coat. But then when we hit the mall.....I have a huge heavy leather coat to drag around...along with my purse, and any bags we have. Thinking I will wear it over then take it off and make a mad dash to the entrance! Maybe dress in layers, wear a shirt and a hoodie under it, then I can leave the heavy one in the car..... Talk to y'all later while DH watches football!! Kat

My Dr. told me that I would be emotional until my body adjusted to the excess estrogen being dumped in. He also said it is much worse for women who still have cycles, and periods. Personally I had a hysterectomy several years ago, so when my body adjusted to the fairly steady release of hormone, it adjusted--but my body was not making any other to work with. If you think about a "normal" womans cycle, there are periods (no pun intended) where your body naturally increases hormone production, so that your period comes on. Add to that an influx of estrogen being released from the fat cells....and hello PMS----even when it is technically NOT PMS time. And when it is??? The levels could be waaaaay high! I used to get migraine headaches caused by estrogen surges. They went away completely when my hysterectomy was done. Then I had 2 right after banding, and another when I had the intestinal twist and lost massive weight suddenly. When it gets dumped into my system that way it triggers the migraine......kind of nice to know you are losing fat, but stepping on the scale is so much less painful!!!! When you begin losing slowly, and steadily----not having the erratic surges of lose-stall-lose-stall, it seems to mellow out. I am sure it will take longer for those of you still dealing with natural hormonal surges tho. Good Luck----but you are NOT alone!! There was even a man on here who mentioned the emotional aspect, and he was concerned about breast tenderness! Kat

I cannot take my decorations down yet....I cannot get to the totes it all goes in! Rick has his new fridge for the shop in the way. He wants to insulate a place he is putting it, so we are going to do that this afternoon, and then we can move it in! I usually take it down about the 2nd-3rd of Jan. It is sooooooo cold here! We had snow off and on all day yesterday, but when we come in from Manda's last night the temp was falling, and stars were in a clear sky----and it is now 10:30 AM and the temp is still sitting at 6 degrees! Woodstove is eating the wood, and keeping me a nice toasty 78 degrees tho!!! I have to get the pics of my DD to someone soon to show Laura. It is hilarious, she has this bullet shaped belly! She is due this week, so she is of course big!!! I defied my SIL, and actually felt the baby kick me! He does not want anyone else touching her belly, but she put my hand there, and I ignored him, and felt the baby--YAY!!! Seeing the granddaughter and grandson (we claim him!) from my sons first marriage was so amazingly wonderful! Everyone was on good behaviour, no words were exchanged or accusations made. His ex stayed the entire time. So there was opportunity to make the snide comments, but no one did. Not sure what will happen now....but we will see. Our granddaughter sure had changed! She went from a chubby little 4 year old toddler girl to a tall, super skinny, missing a front tooth 7 year old big girl! It amazed me that her speech, her movements, and actions are sooooo much like her Dad, and it is natural, it is not something she has seen and copied, she has not seen him! Was a wonderful time with her! Well I am off to buy pork loin. My inlaws do the German thing of pork and sour kraut for New Years dinner. They are not German, but the TX town they were raised in was full of German immigrants, kind of like New Braunfels----so they still eat it. Of course there will be a bowl of black eyes peas and a pan of cornbread too! But anyway the store has a special of buy one pork loin and get 2 free. So I ask her if she wanted one, and she has called and reminded me 2 times now to be sure to get all 3. I am an idiot sometimes, yes, but I am not going to forget to get the 2nd free one---gimme a break!!!! Will check in later today!!! Huggles! Kat

I usually spend Jan. 2nd, taking it all down and storing it away again! I cannot even get to the totes to put it away until Rick moves his new fridge for the shop. So....I will be Christmas-ing for a few more days. We had a great time. Got to see all the kids, and got to see our granddaughter for the first time in several years. It was hard not to be bitter with her Mom for what we have missed, but all that would have gained us is not seeing her for even longer again, so we sucked it up and were all pleasant. She has grown soooooo much! There is such a HUGE difference in 4 years old and 7! She went from a cute chubby toddler into a tall, super skinny missing a front tooth big girl! Our son was on good behaviour, (surprise!) and did not argue at all with her Mom who stayed for the entire time we got to see the granddaughter. We are hoping it is a new beginning, and that we can have her (and actually her brother as well) more now. Back 8 1/2 -9 years ago or so, my son met this new group of people when he was moving here from Denver. There was a girl he was really attracted to he told me, but she had a boyfriend. Turns out it was a long time boyfriend, high school sweethearts & all. Shortly after, the girl ends up pregnant, and the bf freaks out and takes off. In steps our son--against our advice---and they get together. He is with her through the pregnancy, the delivery, all of it. On the way home from the hospital when the little boy was born, they come by. He tells us "Treat as is he were mine, I plan on him being mine" So we did, we fell in love with this tiny little boy, who became our first grandchild. When the baby was 6 months old, the kids got married. Soon she was pregnant again. Son calls us in tears one day to tell us the ultrasound says it is a girl, and he is so happy! He called us in tears a few days later--he come home early and caught his wife with her old boyfriend, the 1st babies Daddy! So they ended up divorced. So my son raised his child through the first year, and he raised my sons child through the first year, then they split up as well! The Mom has gone on to have another child by a boy (he was barely legal I understand) that is half Navajo, very EMO (you know tight black clothes, hair in the face, painted black nails, converse tennies....) and was a mortician! So she now has 3 kids with 3 dads.....and has decided she is a lesbian! My current DIL thinks she is suddenly seeing everyones Dads thinking if she allows visits, and starts getting her child support from each of them, she will not have to work herself. I have no idea. She moved off with the old boyfriend and we never had contact from her again to know where the kids were. My son for a long time sent child support checks to the old address only for them to return to sender. So he quit. Now he is concerned they will expect to cash them all at one time! LOL We kept telling him to start a savings account with her name, and put it in each month so he would not be caught in arrears, but as normal, he did not listen! Rick and I have made a pact, not to rescue him, he can pay as the court deems he should. His Dad did it, so can he! Hell we paid for years when the kids lived with us, just to keep his Mom happy, and allow us to have the kids--------he can just deal with it! Sherry, it was so good talking to you!!! I was telling Rick you called and I was telling you about the walk on thing at the Grand Canyon, and he is all agog about us going again! I should have kept my mouth shut!! LOL Here's an idea, y'all head this way and he will show it to you guys, and I can stay back and "watch" the bikes!!! LOL I have to say I am looking forward to the New Year and New Start! I need to be back on track so badly! I am hoping to get rid of these steroids soon.....they are really messing with my success. It makes me have a voracious appetite! Where I am usually just never hungry, they make me want to eat ALL the time! Also has increased other appetites, so DH is thrilled with the drugs!!! Eileenie, was soo good to see you post, I missed you! I am off to the store to buy pork loin......my MIL has already called to remind me to get all 3 of them! The sale is buy one get 2 free.....so I guess she thinks I am a total idiot, and might leave the 2nd free one behind or something! I called her about them because Rick's family does the German tradition (although they are not German, but were raised in German settlements in TX!) of Pork and Sour Kraut for New Years dinner. They also throw in some black eyed peas for good measure. IN a separate dish!!!! Anyway....I ask her if she wanted one of the pork loins, since I was going to get them, and now she is making me crazy!!! LOL Better head out. Love yas!! Kat

We are in a blizzard watch-------and heading into town, we need to put DH's check in the bank!! LOL---he has lots of shopping to do, so he needs his money!!! He has visions of insulation and pegboard dancing in his head. Personally I am thinking more along the line of new boots!!! Was a wonderful day, and when we get home and I am ready to snuggle in with the snow outside I will share the highlights, and see about some pics!! Kat

GREAT DAY!!!!!!!!! Had ALL the kids and grandkids! Loved it! Going to send a pic to someone to size of my DD's belly so Laura has it to laugh at!!! Grandaughter we had not seen is wonderful, spent hours with her tonight. I am EXHAUSTED! Will chat with all of you tomorrow. Love to you all! Kat

Merry Christmas Eve all---and Christmas Day to some!!! Ceredad, I am so sorry for your loss. I read your post, and picked up the phone--and called my own Dad, who has had numerous heart issues through the last 25 years. A couple of rounds of bypass surgery and countless stents. Called just to tell him I loved him. I could tell in his "I love you too Sis" that it touched him. For that I thank you sincerely. I wish I had some wise words for you.....but a cyber hug sent to you and your siblings will have to do. Susan, your post too. My brother (my only sibling) is disabled as well--both mentally and physically from a car accident when he was 18. The call would make him uncomfortable, so I didn't make it. That is such a hard lesson for me--not to push MY way on to others!!! LOL Cyber hugs to you too. I keep meaning to answer your PM about the removed post on the closed thread. No problem, it OBVIOUSLY needed closed, I was headed your way for guidance after my post, then saw you had been there, so let it go!! CO Chick--quilt is beautiful!! The only thing I make well is a mess! I am one helluva cook! Which got me into the shape I was--literally!!! BBK---hang in there, remember the kids, and you can make it through it all. You love them way more than you dislike the ex, or resent your Mom!!! My best friends have 3 sons, 2 biological and one adopted. When she was 15, and young and dumb, she got pregnant, and her father forced her into putting the child up for adoption. She eventually married, and they agreed thay wanted to adopt as a way to sooth her heart. So last year on their 25th anniversary all 3 boys jokingly had tshirts made up that said Mom's favorite on the front and Dad's #1 Son on the back. Because it was a long standing joke in the family when one would do "good" it would be them that was the favorite....just a fun thing. Well Chad, went behind the other 2 boys backs and had yet another shirt made. Bright white with shiny gold lettering and a halo above the words THE CHOSEN ONE. It was hilarious! The best part was so many did not get it, having either never realized or having forgotten he was adopted! Well....gotta GMAIG----DH is having a pot luck at lunch at work today and then is off til Monday. EVerything but the cooking dinner is done--------whew!!! AND we got an awesome Christmas present this year! My DS has a DD from his first marriage, she is 7. We have not got to see her in years, and her Mom called and is letting us have her the afternoon and evening of Christmas! I am SOOOOO excited!!! Have a great day everyone! Kat

Oh Laura I knew you didn't post it because she hated it!! LOL I just know how it feels to despise pics of myself, regardless of what is going on! I have been known to destroy some of them--but there are those with others in them that I do not want to destroy, but I HATE them. Just saying I know of what she speaks. We look at the picture and imagine her being classic Pamela, and wonder how much later it was before she began taking boob pics!!! LMAO!!! Kat

Tap, many times today my mind has wandered around and wondered if your Mom made it ok!! Glad to hear she did. The weather is making LOTS of flights late!!! Thanks for the update! Colorado Chick, where in CO is your friend from? Kat

Well girls I am sure most of you will not find this hard to believe....but there are many ways I am not as good as Judy! I do not make tons of fudge and give it away, I do not sing (although for others this IS good), and I do not play the flute....AND when a package comes my way with my name, I am NOT waiting!! LOL THANK YOU JENN!!! I received a box today all the way from NY!! Which I need to ask you about addresses--this was different from where I sent your card. Anyway! Inside was a beautiful hand tied fleece blanket done in marroon and winter white! And a wonderful letter from Jenn! Thank you so much! With all you have been doing, how you found time to hand tie it I will never know! And girls there is not a bit of grout on it!! What a sweetheart you are Jennifer, thank you again! Kinsey's reindeer food is done, cookies are done, peanut clusters are done, caramel pecan bears are done, last of the peanuts are roasted and done, chex mix is half done, and fudge is half done. Things for dinner are done, ready to just combine and be done. I have not so much as turned on the TV today! It has been nice and quiet, for awhile I had music on, the rest of the day has been total quiet.....has been really nice!!! This morning right after Rick left, about 5:15, I was working to finish a line in Kinsey's earring holder, and I saw this bright flash and heard a thud like sound. I thought maybe Rick forgot something, so I looked out and nothing. So I forgot about it. Finished the line, and went back to bed. As I lay there just dropping off another BRIGHT flash, and pop. Once again, I look around and nothing. All I can think of is our Christmas lights, are plugged into one another, and it is covered in snow, so maybe they are shorting out. So I call Rick, and he says he guesses it might be, so unplug them, instead of just having them turned off. He ask if the cord was hot, and it was not. There was not another flash at all, so I figured that was it. I was bummed that my lights would not burn now! So not long ago my neighbor called me, and ask if she could come over and use my electricity to check in at work, her battery on her laptop died, and she was only half done. Come to find out the flashes were the transformer behind their houses popping, and it burned a wire so it was live laying in the snow, she said it was beautiful the sparks it threw off!! They still do not have power. They are going to a friends to stay if it is not back on tonight. She did her immediate work, and the laptop is sitting here charging up for her. My Christmas lights are fine!!! YAY!!! Well I am off to cut up the fudge and put it in a container, and decide if I am doing another big batch or not!!! Rick is going to help me tonight, he said come hell or high water we would work on divinity until it worked!!! LOL Gotta love the man!!! Pamela I understand you not liking the pic, I have some I HATE!!! And you are much more photogenic than that pic shows....I deleted it, in your honor! ((hugs)) BBL girlies!! And thank you again Jenn!! Kat

LOL - LJM, I too was going to post a "pole" comment regarding Festivus Day---------but the wording just never sounded right!!! LOL Kat

Suzanne-------after that dream last night I urge you to open your gift!!! I know it is 2 days early, but what the heck HO HO HO!!!!! Check back in after!! Lotsa baking and candy making going on here today. I have to make some reindeer food for Kinsey, she remembered that! She is with her Dad, so I don't have her, looks like our gingerbread house might be a New Years project! He will likely keep her again tonight, and have her for tomorrow, which is how their original divorce agreement reads. He gets her every year on Christmas Eve, and Manda gets her every year on Christmas Day. They opted for that as opposed to alternating, because his Mom always works Christmas Day---she is an OR nurse, and she has volunteered to work for years, so the younger nurses with kids do not have to work. So they always have a Christmas Eve dinner and gifts thing, then drive around looking at lights, and then go to 8:00 mass. Then he brings her home. This way they both get to have solid traditions, and it is similar to her each year. So tomorrow I have to take a pan of dressing to Rick's workplace for a potluck meal. Wish me luck. When I spoke with my MIL this morning and mentioned making candy today she laughed at me and said it would not set up with this weather. It is snowing like you know what outside. It is one of those really beautiful snows, that coats each individual branch, and twig...looks like a postcard! BUT I need my candy to work! I thought to myself, Judy made all that fudge, and it has snowed non stop on her!!! My MIL said she and my SIL both used their never fail divinity recipes and both failed and it was due to the weather. I am going to make some---and I don't even care for it! So I hope like crazy it turns out! TracyK--as soon as I ask for someone to let me know I saw your email---great minds and all that! I really thank you! I think every now and then about getting my own cell service, but with it being a freebie, I am just too much of a Scrooge with my $$$----LOL! With this economy, I might lose it someday and when I do, someone will have to teach me to text, I will be so far behind!! Til then, I am letting the company pay for my phone! We did get good news yesterday, Rick's company picked up all the BP service work in the 4 corners area, so it guarantees them work for the next 18 months. So while hours might get cut, and times tight---looks like he will not get laid off. Gary was released from the hospital. They did find a new large ulcer down near the rectum--but the remaining intestinal tract looked better, and he is able to eat again. Becky said grouchy does not even begin to cover his attitude tho! She might not be making matters better by telling him he may have a sore a$$ but he does not have to act like one!! Well girls, this is not getting my stuff done. I am going to cook all day in my jammies! I have hives where my bra sits under my boobs-and I'll be danged if I am even putting it on today! SO THERE! Loves ya!!! Kat

I know my DD and her now ex husband are both children of divorce themselves. Mine was civil, as was his parents, and together they work things out with their daughter really well. I see much more maturity in the younger divorces---and I think much of it can be credited to the fact that they have lived through it as the kid oftentimes. When I divorced my DD's father, I was the first divorce in my family. Both sets of grandparents as well as parents have celebrated over 50 years of marriage....then along came me!!!! When there are kids involved you have to decide if you love your child more than you hate the spouse you are divorcing....and act accordingly! Which I know from experience is MUCH easier said than done! Kat

Suzanne, if you choose to open it, be warned it is wide open to view! It is not wrapped inside the box! And you are VERY VERY welcome!!! Hope you enjoy! And when y'all get texts from Jane, would someone email me? I am on free cell phone from DH's work, but no texting allowed......and I want to be in the loop!!! Love getting all these Christmas cards from my girls-I had 9 cards in the mail today, and no bills LOVED it!!! Kat

Inlaws.....love mine dearly...BUT (isn't there ALWAYS a but???) my MIL lives by the word of my SIL. And SIL is vindictive as hell! 2 years ago, when I was say a size 14, she bought my gift for my inlaws to give me for my birthday. She bought me size 8 capris, and medium shirts. Mind you even when I can now wear the capris I wear a large or XL top, my DD's will likely never fit a medium!! She knew they would not fit. Then when I get down to where the pants fit, I am a size 8-10 she bought me a XXL..... If she does not suggest totally wrong sized clothes for my DH and I, every gift we have ever gotten, that she picks out has the words "As seen on TV!" on it!!! We have a stack of useless crap we have received through the years. Gives me a reason to have yard sales!!! If left to her own devices, or if she has heard us say something she knows we want, my MIL gets it---but if my SIL is involved forget it, she enjoys buying us crap my DH says! Now off of the gift thing, my MIL will NEVER give you a complete recipe! She always leaves something out, so it never turns out quite right, or as well as hers!!! But at 80+ I may get even bitchier too!!! LOL Kat