Still not eating much

I'm pretty much convinced that before noon I might as well stick with fluids.  Nothing much else will go down. I had one bite of pound cake (I know....not a healthy choice but at this point just trying anything because I'm hungry!) and was painfully stuck.  Had some refried beans for lunch with a flour shell & melted cheese.  That went down fairly well.  Tonight we had homemade tacos and I was able to eat two without getting stuck.  I'm still feeling a little hungry in my tummy but I decided I'd better not push it. 

I go to see my doc for my 4 month check up on Tuesday and I will be very honest with him on my "stuck issues" though I really hate the thought of having to have some of the fill taken out. But whatever doc says I'll abide by.

Rick and I put the Christmas tree up yesterday so we are already enjoying the holiday season.  This is my favorite time of the year.  I hope ya'll are doing well.  I am far behind on reading everyone's blogs but hope to catch up soon.  Thanks for checking in on me!

Sarah

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

It was a good day all in all......had to drive 3 hours one way to be at my Aunt's for dinner but it was okay.  The food was wonderful although I'm having stuck issues again and now I am sore even when I'm not eating (feels like my esophagus is swollen).  I ate noodles and mashed taters, sweet taters, oyster dressing and a piece of sugar cream pie. I was stuffed!  I hope everyone else is having a wonderful Thanksgiving and that your day was spent surrounded by family/friends/loved ones!

Blessings!
Sarah

Mad at myself!

Though I am maintaining I am not losing and I'm mad at myself! I have been making poor food choices and I haven't exercised in a week! What is wrong with me?!?!?!?  This stuck situation I am in is frustrating me too!  I did 2 days of liquid/mushy food had about a day and 1/2 after that of NOT getting stuck and then this AM I got stuck again!  PAINFUL and frustrating!

I just had to vent! Sorry ladies!

Back down

I know that I should not weigh before I go to bed a night, it just doesn't make good sense but I did weigh last night and I weighed 216 (that is with the 5 pounds back on that I mentioned yesterday).  So, just for grins, I weighed this AM as soon as I got up and I weighed 211! Back down to my lowest post surgery weight!  How does that happen?

I've been having a problem with getting stuck when I eat certain foods lately.  When I got my last fill for the first week or so I didn't have any problems.  I ate, got full, stopped and not problems (no getting stuck).  Now, I would say for the last 3 weeks, I get stuck all the time and usually after only a couple of bites. It's very painful and usually takes 15-20 minutes to pass.  (I don't PB, just have major pain in my chest).  Today I feel my iced tea passing through my throat.  It doesn't get stuck but it feels like it's passing over a "bump" so to speak and then it goes down.  Any suggestions? Do I need to go to all fluids or mushies for a few days? Have I irritated something and do I need to let it settle down?  Please help me out ladies....I need your advice.  I don't want to call the doc if I don't need to and I certainly don't want to have to pay for an unfill if it's not necessary.

Thanks!
Sarah

November is 1/2 over

WOW....time just keeps flying by and I'm sure it will only get worse with the holidays coming up!  I've been stockpiling some Christmas gifts along the way and last week I worked on some craft/gifts projects.  Over the weekend I went to Gatlinburg with my 2 sisters and 6 other girlfriends. We had a great time.  Too much food though! I totally "went off the plan" for the weekend although my buddy the band still kept me in line on not eating too much at a time.....I just ate some of the wrong things!  I was so happy to get home to my family.  It's always fun to get away but there's nothing as sweet as being H~O~M~E!  I weighed when I got home Sunday evening (had to email my numbers for "Biggest Loser" competition).......it was not good!  That 5 pound loss I had has crept back up on me----OUCH!  I will not be discouraged though!  I will keep plugging away and keep trying to make good food decisions.

I am so far behind on blog reading.  I'm trying to get caught up but I feel so out of touch with you all!  I hope that everyone is doing well (better than I am anyway) on the weight loss front!  I sure do appreciate my blogger family and all the encouragement, advice, tips that ya'll offer!

Blessing for a good Tuesday!
Sarah

Veteran's Day.....a day late

I should have posted this yesterday! A very poignant letter written by my hubby on Veteran's Day 2009 (Rick served 4 years in the Army and 4 years in the National Guard). Thought I would post it here for anyone that would be interested in reading his thoughts.



Blessings,

Sarah
********************************************************

As I sit here waiting for a huge file to download for work I have been thinking about this day, Veteran's Day.



This is the day that all veterans, not just the ones killed defending our country and her interests but each and every man and woman who have made the decision to "roll the dice" and serve.



In the 60s and 70s it was an extremely unpopular thing, to serve in the military. There was a war in Vietnam. Our soldiers were literally spit on and called names like "Baby Killer" and "Asshole". These men and woman didn't really have a choice, alot of them had been drafted. I guarantee you they didn't want to go over there and do the things they had to do. They did as they were told like good Americans.



In the late 70s and 80s we as a nation healed from that experience. Iran took some embassy workers hostage. President Carter attempted to forcably retrieve them, the mission failed and we didn't try again. Then President Reagan took office and the hostages were released. I believe because President Reagan had stated to the effect that he was coming to get them out. This help with the confidence in our military. President Reagan later sent troops into Granada because the Cubans were taking over the island and some American students were in trouble. He did not allow the media to infiltrate the military, preventing the horrors of battle from being piped into our living rooms. Granada was a success.



We went to Honduras & Panama to defend our interests. Then a leader of Iraq invaded a small country called Kuwait. Presiden Bush with the help of 26 other nations drove this army back into the desert...the war lasted 100 HOURS.



We went to Bosnia and Somalia to protect other ethnics from mass murder.



Then on September 11, 2001 WE were attacked. A group of extremist Muslims hijacked 4 airplanes and crashed them into the Pentagon, the World Trade Center, and a field in PA. We as people have been at war now for 8 years. We have not been attacked again. Why? Because we have brought the war to THEM.



Today, I ask you to acknowledge a veteran. Just smile, or shake their hand, or say thanks. They are the reason you breathe, eat, and sleep without fear of war.



Thanks for listening.

Rick

Okay....

............so I copied a few of you but I thought it was an excellent idea and I have fun doing it!

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ


A

- Age: 40

- Annoyance: Rude people

- Animal: I have always loved pigs! (guess growing up on a farm helped out a little on that)

- Actor/Actress: Jennifer Anniston and Meg Ryan

B

- Beer: Have never found one that I like….YUCK!

- Birthday/Birthplace: April 8, 1969 / Greensburg, IN

- Body Part on opposite sex: Eyes & arms

- Been in Love: Absolutely!

- Been bitched at: Yep

- Believe in yourself?: I’m getting better at it.

- Believe in God: 100% YES! Where would I be without Him?

- Before weight: 238 Highest (weight at surgery)

C

- Car: TRUCK – 2006 Black Chevy Silverado and I love driving it!

- Candy: Anything chocolate….I am a chocoholic

- Color: Green

- Cried in school: Yes, Jr. High was horrible for me

- Chocolate/Vanilla: Bryers Vanilla Bean

- Chinese/Mexican: Mexican

- Cake or pie: Depends on my mood

- Country to visit: Germany, Australia, England

D

- Day or Night: Night.

- Do the splits?: Absolutely not……though an interesting fact about me…I used to be able to touch my nose with my toes while laying on my stomach and putting my feet over my head.

E

- Eggs: Over easy or scrambled

- Eyes: Green (One of my best features according to my hubby)

F

- First crush: Dean Bennett...1st grade

- First thoughts waking up: “Why do I have to get up? If I ignore the alarm maybe it will go away”…..but it never does.

- Food: Pizza is my absolute favorite

G

- Greatest Fear: Losing someone close to me that I love

- Goals: To look good (healthy) and feel good about myself.

- Get along with your parents?: Yes though in recent years my dad & I have butted heads. My mom is my hero – she’s suffering from Alzheimer’s though and I miss HER so much.

- Good luck charm: don't need one. Don’t believe in luck.

H

- Hair Color: Light brown

- Height: 5' 6”

- Happy: Tremendously!

- Holiday: Christmas

- Health freak?: No….don’t think I will ever totally be one.

- Hate: that I don’t have enough money to shop for clothes like I want to.

I

- Ice Cream: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough or Chocolate Chip

- Instrument: Played the alto saxophone all through school. Have always dreamed of learning to play the piano and/or the violin. (Would love to use my talent and play for the Lord)

J

- Jewelry: White gold or sliver

- Job: Administrative Assistant at Tree City Tool and Engineering Co., Inc. (been here 15 years) I do payroll, secretarial stuff

K

- Kids: One DD, Bekah, will be 9 in January; “Bonus” DS, Conner, will be 6 in a couple of weeks

- Kickboxing or karate: Never done either but I have always thought if I was in better shape I’d like to do kickboxing.

- Keep a journal? I write a blog...

L

- Longest Car Ride: Indiana to Fort Carson, Colorado my Senior year to go visit Rick…….took forever and I was wanting to see him really bad.

- Love: Is a blessing

- Laughed so hard you cried: Yes, happens a lot more frequently now that Rick is back in my life. (Bekah told me soon after Rick and I started dating again, “Mommy….you have a new laugh!”)

- Love at first sight: Could be

M

- Milk flavor: White

- Movie: An Officer and A Gentleman but more recently The Proposal

- Mooned anyone?: Nope.

- Marriage: To my soul mate, Rick and it’s more wonderful than I could have ever imagined.

Motion sickness? Not if I’m in the front seat. I love to read in the car.

- McD’s or BK: McD's (but only for their coffee and un sweet tea)

N

- Number of Siblings: 2 sisters (I’m the middle one)

- Number of Piercing: one in each ear

- Number: 7

O

- One wish: To have all debt paid off and not have to work.

P

- Place you’d like to live: Always thought Colorado but anywhere in a cabin in the woods (with my hubby and chitlins’)

- Perfect Pizza: Pizza King (a local favorite) with sausage, shrooms & extra cheese.

- Pepsi/Coke: Neither…..Diet AW Root Beer

Q

- Questionnaires: I think they are fun

R

- Reason to cry: When I am extremely proud of my children

- Reality T.V.: Dancing With The Stars, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Jon & Kate Plus Eight (before all the extra drama….she ran a tight ship with those 8 kids)

Roll your tongue in a circle? Yep and I can tie a cherry stem in a knot with my tongue.

S

- Song: I love music. Could never pick just one

- Shoe size: 8 1/5 - 9

- Salad Dressing: Honey French

- Skipped school: Lots of times in college, not in HS

- Smoking: Never have

- Sing well?: No

- Strawberries/Blueberries: Both

T

- Time for bed: Usually asleep no later than midnight

- Thunderstorms: Love them if they aren’t too fierce

- TV: Love my DVR…..hate commercials
U

- Unpredictable: I agree with Jen….LIFE

V

- Vegetable you hate: Cooked carrots

- Vegetable you love: Broccoli, Green Beans

- Vacation spot: Hilton Head, SC (only been there once but great memories)

W

- Weakness: Chocolate/sweets!

- When you grow up: I want my kids to say I was a good Mommy!

- Which one of your friends acts the most like you: Tanya

- Wanted to be a model?: Nope but wanted to be a cheerleader

X

-X-Rays: Have had MULTIPLE!

Y

-Year it is now: 2009

-Yellow: The color of our upstairs bathroom

Z

- Zoo: Such a fun place to visit

- Zodiac sign: Aries

Kettle Bells

Well, I finally got my 5# kettle bell (had to special order it into my local Walmart store).  I'm embarrassed to admit that the 10# bell was just too much for me to start out with.  I will work up to it I am sure!  WOW....what a workout!  I was dripping with sweat but it sure did feel good.  My DD kept asking, "Mommy, are you okay".......huffff.....pufffff......yes I am fine!

I think I'm going to try to do the workout 2 times a week and then walk the rest of the time. Possibly working up to 3 times a week.  Time goes by fast when I'm doing it so that's good since I HATE exercising!

Not much else to report today.  Sorry but I live a boring life. Although I am working on an "ABC" getting to know me thingy.  Things are S-L-O-W here at work!

Ta-Ta for now!
Sarah

Check out the following link if you have time.  It's an article in our local paper about my nephew.....I'm such a proud aunt!  http://www.greensburgdailynews.com/local/local_story_308121341.html

Protein Drinks

Just a quick fly by post to ask my fellow bandsters....."Are you still drinking protien drinks daily?"

I must admit that I am not but I really think I should be.  I am just having a hard time finding one that tastes GOOD and that I don't have to gag down!

Please post if you have any suggestions on how I can get my daily protein in!

BTW - I've lost another 1.5 pounds bringing me to a total lost of 32.5!