His hair was finally cut after a stranger asked whether Logan was a boy or girl. Hubby cut it while I was walking, although I had wanted to be there to take pictures. Hubby put Barney on the tv, and he said that Logan didn't fuss, fidget, or even notice what was being done to him at all. So no real photo oppurtunities anyway, since I was hoping for the screaming heebeejeebies or a full on freakout fest for posterity.

Logan is completely in awe of Barney & Friends and the Teletubbies. He watches one of each in the morning and then one in the early evening. During this time I pick up and clean the kitchen. After five minutes of that I hit the computer and read people's journals and check the gastric bypass forums I belong to-- sue me, its so nice to be able to do that! Because once the shows are over, our little man is a little tornado through our home. Here is a new activity he has started this week:

He also takes these cans and throws them outside on the patio. I stopped bringing them back in when I realized he was following right behind me, grabbing them out of the cabinet, and pitching them right back outside. He thinks its hysterical. The oldest came to me and asked if I knew that half our food was outside. "Yep," I said. "And I'll be damned if I pick them up while he is wide awake."

He also likes to pour the milk out of his bottle on to the patio. This wouldn't be an issue really, if he didn't also pretend to be a puppy and LICK IT UP. No amount of coersion or distraction works while he is at it. If I move him out of the area, he rushes right back. When I trade the bottle for a sippy cup, it becomes World War 3 in this house. I have never seen my child's face get redder than it does lately when he is pitching a fit. It would be funny if it didn't absolutely turn me into complete mush and I shove his bottle at him to get it to stop. He gets me sucking up like Monica Lewisnky.

Other than that, Logan is just the sweetest little boy. He likes to 'help' me wipe down the furniture with paper towels. He also loves his books... he grabs them and toddles over, sits really close to me, then shoves it at me. He is becoming increasingly interested in pictures of other children. He now points to parts of his body and I tell him their names.

I am so blessed to be able to spend this time with him. I am very thankful. I wish that every mom and dad who wanted to could stay home. Right now I have no wish to go to work and I am just frickin' pleased as punch to be here.

Thanks Jennah for your kind words! I agree with you about Logan's little cheeks, I actually do squeeze them quite a bit. He thinks its funny. As you see in this picture, he also thinks its funny to lick his own foot. Of course it helped that I, his big brother and sister all laughed when we saw what he was doing. He kept it up for about five minutes before moving on to something else.

I am happy to say that I have found a solution to my protein problem and made my goals for water and protein every day this past week. I figured out that using Unjury Unflavored protein powder in a cup of skim milk gave me 28 grams of protein. Luckily, I can handle it and I do not get nauseous. Its made a major impact on my intake and Im glad I kept looking for a solution.

This Thursday I have my two month checkup with Dr. Clark. I may have to reschedule-- hubby works that day and he is upset he won't be there, so he has asked if I can do it next week instead. I am calling tomorrow to find out.

I am walking and feeling pretty darn good! I am still adjusting to hubby's increased interest in me-- he talks A LOT lately and I swear, 5 out of 7 days in the week I can't go straight to sleep when I finally slip into bed. He's been Mr. McGrabby lately. Not that I'm complaining. He's also complimenting me daily (even about my huge ass) and its taking me a bit to get used to. If Im so off-kilter with this reaction now, what will be my reaction in a few months?

I tried drinking half of my normal serving of my protein supplement so that I could start the day with 25 grams already taken care of-- shouldn't have. My tummy has suddenly decided that it doesn't like that shake. I got almost all of the 4 ozs in, but threw up the last bit I drank of it. Fun times. I have tried two protein bars-- they both sucked, although the South Beach one wasn't horrible. I have one more to try tomorrow. I will keep trying as I go along.

I am driving myself nuts, though, because I will start doing great with one thing and screw up the other. When I was on top of my protein I had trouble with water. When Im on top of my water, I screw up the protein. Yes, I understand Im still a newbie at this and we aren't all perfect, but I am frustrated a bit with myself. Honestly, I feel very good. Its not like I am feeling fatigued or run down or even ill. At least I can be thankful for that. I am doing really well remembering my vitamins and my ulcer medication (you take it for the first three or four months). I think I just want to make sure I do not get sick or lose muscle tone.

I wonder how many others have struggled like this. Logic tells me that most of us do, but I still manage to belittle myself (in my head) over it. I know I wanted to be the perfect RNY patient and an outstanding model of post-op behavior. It will happen eventually, I just need to work out a few kinks in this lifestyle.

This week I am going to try a few new recipes (like devilled eggs) to start getting more variety in my menu. I've stuck with pretty much the same foods this week and all is well so far. Time to add a few more things. Today I ate Papa John's Chicken Strips (everyone else had pizza). They were very, very yummy. Logan loved them, too. Logan also tried pizza and he was all over that.

I wore one of my husband's t-shirts today. He was all smiles when I came downstairs. The scale isn't moving again (Im willing to bet because of the protein problem), but Im still seeing differances in my body. This week I noticed my shoulders were more defined (dare I say pretty?). When I put on my bra, the cups have a bit of room and I am latching the hooks at the innermost latches instead of the outwermost, like I did last month. Looks like I will be bra shopping next month. I know hubby is glad I love a bargain and buy the cheapies in absolutely everything.

I have been eyeing local marathons and considering choosing one for later in the year. It has to be one that allows walking-- I will not run until I am in the 180s, my knees can't handle it otherwise-- and it has to be nearby and also allow me to push Logan in the stroller with me.

I still think about the Disney marathon (hubby asked me about it last week), but with us moving overseas and still paying bills from the surgery, I just can't.

In other news...Big Brother 8. The two most disgusting housemates, Mike 'Boogie' and Erika, are the final two. Well, at least my Janelle will win America's Choice on Thursday. I didn't bother watching the live feeds this week. If i have to watch Erika suck off Boogie's face again (I already watched the first handjob) I will puke. Tonight I have the feeds on because right this moment, the final two are being questioned by the Jury...and usually after that Q&A we get to watch the final houseguests bitch, moan, and fume over it. Entertainment.

Logan has become quite the character and I am loving it. He has begun using hand gestures to tell me what he wants-- these are not 'formal' baby signs, like out of a book, but his own signals. I didn't teach them to him, since I was still debating whether it was too soon to start (apparantly not), and I am so happy that I've had little problem figuring out what he is saying to me.

I think I shared that Logan knows how to shake his head 'no.' This week he has started nodding his head 'yes' when I ask him questions. The first time he did it I thought it was a fluke. We are also learning to do a high five. He giggles over that one. He's ticklish and I can always get shrieks of laughter out of him by blowing raspeberries on his neck.

Now, if I could just get my 12 year old and my 18 year old to be as sweet.

I took this picture after Tropical Storm Ernesto had finally passed over Virginia Beach. This is just down the street from our house. Thankfully, we are on a higher section of land in military housing, so our vehicles weren't submerged and our yards weren't filled up with water like these poor people. There were a bunch of adults and kids out playing in that temporary lake. It made me nervous to watch them.

I am feeling so much better about my ability to get protein in. Today hubby and I found a couple of protein bars to try, but the biggie for me was finding a food scale. When I took it home and weighed my usual snack amounts of turkey jerky and cheese, I realized I should have no problem whatsoever getting enough protein. So once my protein shake mix is all gone, I'm not going to waste the money replacing it. I can do just fine with protein rich food. It actually looks like I was getting more protein in than I though, which is great!

I finally started my cycle today! Yay! I know normally it isn't something to celebrate, but now I can meet with a gynecologist and have my IUD placed again. Which means I can relax and actually enjoy sex again. Hubby has been a little freaked by my unusual disinterest in sex lately and the majority of that was anxiety. Soon I can take care of that and it will help immensely. The other bit of it is just that he isn't home a lot and it doesn't help foster a sexy feeling, ya know? He plans on quitting his second job in January, so it will be nice to have more couple time. We might join a bowling league together.

I'm still walking 2.2 miles. I am making sure to take my time-- I catch myself trying to walk faster and I immediately slow down. No more injuries for me! I've also started the whole light weight workouts again and I found my old mini workout dvds I used in Guam. As soon as the surgeon clears me to, I will go back to my daily situps, like I did in 2003.

I feel good. I sleep so much better. So well, in fact, that I've not found myself needing the midafternoon naps I was taking with Logan. Don't get me wrong, I do still take them most of the time (im not crazy!), but I have also opted to spend some me time doing something else instead of sleeping. I've been playing Everquest with old friends or writing.

Hubby says we may actually know our next duty station by the beginning of October! Wonder if we will actually go live in Italy.

I've been struggling a bit lately.

My problem is mostly protein-- I am sick to death of the protein supplement I've been using. Yes, I know, I know, just buck up and keep chugging it. I guess I needed a break. I was actually starting to feel sick ot my stomach whenever I drank it.

Unfortunately, I also had a half day of throwing up and nausea. I was out of nausea meds, so hubby took off and picked up my refill after work. He also picked up a pregnancy test, just in case. We've been very, very careful, but each of our kids have been a surprise, so it didn't hurt to make sure. Negative, of course. I'm not really sure what happened that day. Could be hormones-- I still have not had a proper cycle since surgery day. I also was dehydrated...probably the driving force, really.

I'm struggling with the water, too. I am getting close to the minimum, but still need to work on it. With my stomach still healing, I've had a few instances of being very uncomfortable after eating and drinking. I know its made me slow down my drinking. I even catch myself forgetting to take my water with me when we go out. Its a habit I am still developing. On my walks I easily drink 16 ounces, because I bring a full bottle with me and sip as I go along.

So I am making copies of the food journal that my center gave me and I am posting it on my fridge. It worked extremely well for me two weeks out, and I think it will help me feel much more in control.

I have been very slowly adding in new food-- I tried vegetable beef soup and a beef soup w/ potatoes. Vegetable beef soup hurt like hell... I think it was the barley. So none of that for me for awhile. The other soup was fantastic, so I will stick with that. Logan really liked it, too.

I tried whole wheat pasta. So not loving it, so skipping that. That is it for the new foods. I am taking my time, but I am just dying to eat a bit of a veggie sandwhich from Schlotzkie's. Mmmmmm. Maybe this weekend I will get a small one and slice it up.

Promise to get on top of the protein and water requirements!