Tonight I went to the WLS Support group here in Hopkinsville at the Jennie Stuart Center. We're really small right now, but we're hoping more people will turn up. One of our ladies had her RNY last week and we were so proud of her for showing up (with husband in tow). She was having a rough time, like it always is at first, so we were able to encourage her and remind her that it does get better.

This morning I did all the laundry and even put it up (*gasp*) and picked up the kitchen. The livingroom and the bathrooms were already done, so I worked on my bedroom, which ended up taking just a few minutes because it looked worse than it actually was. So, today's housework was dedicated to Allison. Thanks!

I'm just thrilled to pieces about almost reaching another milestone in my post-WLS life. When I began this journey, I was just a couple points away from being categorized Super Obese with a BMI of 48.3. Today, my BMI is 30.5, which means I am just one and a half points from being categorized as simply 'overweight' and no longer Obese. Once I see that 150 lbs light up on the scale, I'll be just overweight after 17 years of obesity.

That is more satisfying than any piece of pizza ever could be.

Everyone needs to see Allison's pictorial of what she does in a day with her boys, because holy shit, I'm a stay at home mom and I am not at all as organized and SuperMom as she is.... and she's a student! I've always been impressed by her energy and her motivation. I feel so bad now about my daily schedule now. I'm really lazy and I like to just go with the flow. We don't have a regular wake up time, a regular nap time, nor a night schedule either. Heck, we never know when or what we are going to eat around here, I just wing it.

I also confess that we eat in front of the television most of the time. Yes! A toddler eating on the couch with his mom! And right this second there are dirty dishes in the sink and laundry laying on my bed unfolded. On my UNMADE bed, no less. Not a lot, but its there. Hmmm... I'm probably causing all of y'all uncontrollable twitching now. It gets worse... I'm going to go to bed with it all there and not do anything until the morning. Because I feel like it.

I once signed up for FlyLady and tried to follow it. I lasted a week. I am glad that my housekeeping skills are actually (honestly!) better than they have ever been (bye bye depression!), but I will never be perfect. Heck, if my mom walked in right now she'd be horrified and I'd never hear the end of it. Which is of course why I do almost all my cleaning in the early mornings in case she stops by. When I know its safe, things go to hell here pretty quickly. There is almost always a load of wash ready to be dried or a load to be folded, and the same pretty much follows for the dishes. Then I'll get hit with the urge to cleean and I keep it up for awhile then relax again. My mom jokes about it (well, makes backhanded compliments), but accepts that its just the way I am.

Its laziness and disinterest, really. I'd rather just hang out with Logan, surf the 'net, or watch some tv than scrub. Or head to the gym or swim at the pool. Now, my house is livable and I can let people in it without being embarrassed. I vacuum and sweep everyday (most of the time), but damn, dishes and laundry are the devil.

Watching what Allison does every day though, it does make me want to do more, be better, try harder. I fully appreciate that I'm extremely lucky to get to hang out at home and that I have it really easy. I do know I really should kick it up a notch. I'd like to be a SuperMom, too (and I absolutely think Allison is one)... I need to get it together.

My SL joint is feeling better, but I still am a bit sore and achey. I've kept up with my walking and have had to actually slow myself down several times. I find that kind of neat, since I used to go slow on purpose only because I didn't want to have to keep up that level of movement. If I walked slow all the time, my walking partner (usually my 90 pound mother) wouldn't expect me to go as fast as they did.

I do have a secret that my kids do not know about (so Cat, you can't tell you-know-who). Hubby is coming home for a visit in just over two weeks! He may arrive the night of September 11th or I will pick him up the morning of September 12th. It depends on if he can get on the evening plane through standby when he arrives in Florida on the 11th. There was some sort of training shake up and they let some people take their leave earlier than they expected.

So there goes trying to lose 20 pounds before he gets here, so I'm just now going to try to get into the 140s, specifically 148. That's 5.5 pounds in about 17 days. Its worth a try! This also means that I won't be having my hair colored, visiting Victoria's Secret, purchasing a new dress,and getting some fab shoes to go with it all. No money, since now its going towards airplane tickets. Ah well, at least I can find some lingerie in a size 12/14 at JCPenney or something. Anything to hold these saggy boobs up!

In other fun news-- Logan has used the potty at least once each day in the last three days! Twice he did it all on his own, with no prompting. I'm down to using about three diapers a day now, on those days that we go somewhere, which is actually pretty much everyday. I hit the gym in the mornings and I definately have him in a diaper then.

Ok, Im off to read a bit more (been doing a lot of that lately).

Logan's doctor visit went well. He's still in the 25 percentile for height and weight, but his health is perfect. The doctor felt he should be evaluated for his speech, so I left a message with the local First Steps coordinator in town. He did not like his Hepetitis shot, but who does? He's now all caught up and will have no other immunizations until he enters school. There may be more required, however, if we get orders overseas. We all have to have more done for that.

We will find out in less than two weeks if we received orders to Japan. I've got my fingers crossed. It would be great to be all in one place, hubby working only one job, and enjoying the extra money. I'm following our budget closely and if it all pans out, we will have paid off the majority of our debt (including our Escape, four years early). We will have cleared $1400 a month in debt.

Logan peed in the potty again last night! We clapped, hugged,and high-fived. Using the cloth training pants won't guarantee he'll be potty trained at all for quite awhile, but I am just loving how long I can make the disposable diapers last now. We've already cut our disposable diaper use in half, which puts $40 a month back in our pocket, which is $480 a year (plus sales tax). Of course, I'm using that extra $20 each payday for healthier food and snack choices. When my oldest leaves next year, Im going to be putting the diaper money into savings.

My oldest was hired at Gamestop, so he has two jobs now (the other is the movie theater). If he keeps this up, he may actually be able to leave just after his 20th birthday and start his new life in Virginia Beach with just the right amount of savings to fall back on while he looks for work there. Right now he's just spinning his wheels here, although he is learning to drive and saving up for his first car. If he had his license and a car, he wouldn't be here at all. He really wants to get started on the next steps (he's thinking about applying to the police acadamy) and I'll be honest, its really time for him to be out of here.

((Caroline-- I used the Paraguard IUD for 9 years successfully, so I'm happy to use it again))

This will be real short. My back problem seemed to go away after a few days of rest, but as soon as I hit the gym, I got hit with a whammy in the right side of my lower back and my right hip. Today I met the greatest doctor ever on a military facility and he told me I've injured my SL joint/ligament in my hip. He taught me stretches I needed to do three times a day and instructed me on how I should be doing my workouts for the next 4-6 weeks. No medication, unfortunately, since its not a muscle problem. I just have to grit my teeth and work through it slowly. He said I should be back to my base line abilities by 6 weeks. I also have to do heat compresses before stretching and workouts and cold compresses after. I'm sitting on ice as I type, actually.

I liked my doctor so much that I asked him about getting a referral for birth control ( you are really only supposed to ask the pcm assigned to you I think)-- I then found out that he's one of the few physicians allowed to do IUD insertions and he was thrilled with my choice of IUD (Paraguard's copper non-hormone). He doesn't like the hormone based one and refuses to do those insertions-- he gives the ladies referrals for that. So he set me up with a couple things for that (we had to special request the IUD since the hospital pushes the hormone-based one) and I just have to make a follow-up appointment when the IUD arrives at the pharmacy.

I don't want the hormone based IUD because the idea of having that crap in my system makes me ill. Personally, I like having my cycle and the idea of not having a cycle at all creeps me out. I'd worry every month I was pregnant! Also, the hormones have a nasty habit of messing with your ability to lose or maintain your weight and my urgeon asked me to avoid birth control pills and Depo Prevera for that very reason.

Tomorrow Logan has a doctor's appointment and I will be asking about his speech. He picked up three new hand signals just this past week-- hand to mouth for 'drink', hands rubbed together for 'wash my hands', and hands put together and moved in curving patterns for 'swim' or 'take a bath', although he also makes swimming motions with his arms for that, too. Oh, he also brushes his finger over his teeth when he wants to brush them, so I guess that is four. I will be sure to write about the visit later today.

I've been sidelined by this injury but I somehow managed to drop below 155 to 153.5. Imagine that!

I was doing great with the workouts up until last Friday morning. We were leaving the YMCA after my workout (which was 40 minutes of walking and 40 minutes of weightlifting) and as I was putting Logan into his car seat, I pulled my back. My dumb ass had picked him up, and because I was in such a great mood, I swung him up and into his seat (it makes him laugh). I felt the muscles in my lower back spasm up and I really did think for a moment I was going to be stuck in the parking lot. After my initial "Oh shit, holy fuck!", I slowly got Logan buckled in and got behind the wheel. I was able to drive home, thank goodness, with a minimum of pain.

I called my mom and I told her I wanted to try to avoid the ER on a Friday night, so I used one of her Lortabs and some Icy Hot deep muscle pads through the rest of the day and night. I felt pretty good by the time I went to bed (it still hurt but felt better), however, the next morning it felt like more of my back was spasming and it was actually more painful. So I sat in the ER for five hours and recieved some acetaminophen and a muscle relaxer in pill form, and got two shots in the back to get me through the rest of the day (shots were a steroid and pain reliever).

This totally sucks. I had worked out every day for ten days and now I have three days of no exercise, my weight seems to have shot up 5 pounds (most likely water retention, and I am fighting off a bad funk. I'm hearing that nasty little voice tell me I will weigh 155/156 forever and I better just get used to it already. Getting sidelined like this wasn't in the game plan. Grrrr....

In other bad news, hubby called to say they took his leave away and told him he has to take it in November now. He's covering for two people-- one got busted for something at work and the other is going through his Chief initiation, after which he gets to go home to see his family. I have a bad feeling that in November they will say he can't come until December. We are also waiting for our orders to come through and found out that our Italy choices are definately a no-go, so we are waiting to see if we are headed to Japan.

I did have some good news this morning, though. I was picking up in the livingroom and as I passed by Logan's potty chair I saw that he had peed in it! He must have done it last night while I was letting him run around naked after our shower. Yippee! Today he will be spending his time in his new cloth undies (he really likes them!) and maybe, just maybe, he'll do it again.

Logan has also started to go lay down for his naps all by himself and last night when I said it was time for "Night night" he walked right into his bedroom (with no lights on) and let me kiss him and tuck him in. He didn't get back up or fuss at all. Just went right to sleep.

This week Logan has tried to say shoe "Sh", fish "ish", and hat "at." He makes an "sssss" sound when he sees pictures of snakes. I am still very worried about his speech so I went ahead and set up an appointment for him on August 22nd and we'll see what his pediatrician says. Here's the list of words he has:
"Sh" shoe
"ish" fish
"at" hat
"Annk Ooo" Thank you
"Nana" Banana
"Mama"
"Dada"
"Ball"
"Bubble"

And that is it. He has started giving us more hand signs though. One is where he opens his left hand and points into it with his right hand. It means he wants us to give him something and we really only figure out what it is by watching where his eyes are going. He nods his head for "yes" and shakes his head for "no" and rubs his belly to tell us he is hungry. He seems to understand a great majority of what we say and he can take two step instructions if they are clear. I do not believe his hearing is off, I think he just has a speech delay like his sister. If the doctor brushes it off, I may just contact the local school district for an assessment, because DAMN I'm really worried, y'all.

I am hoping to take Logan swimming later today, after his nap, and I will exercise a bit in the water. I'm trying to be careful because I do not want to make my back worse and end up with even more non-exercise days. My weight is going wild right now and won't budge below 156 at all, but I will keep plodding along.

My husband called and let us know that he will be home October 7th through the 21st, which shortens the time I have to hit my goal. I'm gunning for 15 pounds lost by the time he gets here. I have my fingers crossed. I have exercised every day so far (yay me!) and that includes weightlifting. I have little smilie stickers for each day on the calendar (I'm a dork!).

Great news with Logan-- I purchased a pack of cloth training pants and within one hour of putting them on, he tried to pee in the potty! Then he tried again later in the day! Yippee! I say tried because he couldn't get his underpants off and did most in the pants and got a little in the toilet. I didn't care, I cheered him on and everything. He was all smiles. I am really thrilled to have these underpants because it cuts the amount of disposables I'm using (yay!) and I really think its better for his skin in this heat. The amount of sweat these poor babies have in those diapers is just awful-- if you feel just the top of the back of a baby's diaper it feels like a sauna.

I think Logan will be using the toilet exclusively by next year. Its fun to see him making the connection. I am keeping it all no-pressure, though, because its his pace that is important, not mine. I'm just benefitting financially and moving toward a bit of a 'greener' existance at home. Logan benefits with more comfort and experiences.

Today Logan said 'nana' for bananas and 'ish' for fish. He's trying, he really is. He's just very particular about what he wants to say and when. He uses a lot of his own signing for his communicating and he probably just finds it easier. I am happy that lately he is actually letting me read books to him instead of grabbing the book and taking off with it to look at by himself. I bought two 'potty books' on Amazon that came with the new underpants and he loves them.

My husband puts in for our new duty station choices this week. We'll know where we are headed (unless he has to extend on Cuba again) by the middle of next month. I really do hope we end up all together, even if he is attached to a ship. I do not want to be apart another year.

I've worked out every day this month so far (uh, yeah, I realize its only the 4th). I began weightlifting again last night-- Logan took a normal naptime and I was able to get in to the gym before the daycare closed with plenty of time to do cardio and weights. I plan to go today and have set up a workout tomorrow as well while my mom takes Logan to the YMCA pool.

Hubby called a couple days ago to say that he'd be home Octoer 21st, but called last night to say it looks like he is coming in September some time. Not that it matters, I'm still going to try to lose at least 6 pounds before the end of this month. I do need to get a gyn appointment to get my copper iud placed, though, so I better get on that pronto.

I am not sure if I will pay for the Big Brother feeds again next year. I just don't have the time Ithought I would, although I have seen some things they didn't show on the television (mostly Dick being a prick to Jen with just the nastiest, vile language a man can use). Right now I'm only rooting on Eric, Jessica, and surprisingly, Jen... yes, she's vapid and self-absorbed, but I like that she doesn't back down from Dick and doesn't let what he says get to her. I'm sick of Daniele's constant whining ("I'm soooo frustrated right now!") and Amber the Sea Hag's attention whoring with her tears. You would not believe the shit that comes out of her mouth-- they don't show any of it on the show. I wasn't surprised they didn't show her talking about her time being a meth user. The girl is a walking D.A.R.E. poster.

I did manage to get a workout in but it wasn't at the gym. I did yardwork, weeding, cleaning, and playing with Logan. I did well with calories, protein, and water intake. It was hot as hell today,so the water part was easy.

Logan stayed awake for 12 hours, after skipping his nap AGAIN, so he should be up fairly early in the morning (he went to sleep before 11pm). If so, I'll head to the gym in the morning and get over the guilt his crying will cause me when I drop him off at the daycare. You think I'd be used to it but naw.... I'm a sucker and it kills me when he cries.

My oldest's girlfriend is here and they are happy and currently wrestling in the livingroom. I think I am going to go to bed early so they can have some alone time. I need to start going to bed before 3am anyway!

Looking foreward to Big Brother tomorrow night. They'll be showing Dick pouring ice tea over Jen's head and the other verbal abuse he's been flinging her way (still). I'm pretty much fed up with everyone in the house aside from Jessica and Eric.... the restof those people are just worthless. Especially Amber, my God, what a dumbass crybaby Sea Hag.

Ok, the lovebirds are sucking face in front of me so Im going to go to bed before I throw up.

I'll show no loss for this month except a half inch around my waist. Exercise was extremely light this month-- mostly lawn mowing twice a week and the pool with Logan three times a week. I did walk a few times, but nothing like I was doing and like I admitted, I had stopped weightlifting.

I was looking at my goal chart I keep on my refridgerator (I keep it there so I can see how far I have come every time I go into the kitchen) and I noticed that I had made very cautious goals. Maybe too cautious, because I am settling for whatever has come my way. I know this is a logical thing to do, but hey, where is the fun in that? Why not make a goal that might be a little out of my ability but at least try to work hard to reach it? Damn, I have this great tool and I am not even taking full advantage of it if I just kinda lay back. Let's get down to the nitty gritty work and get closer to goal!

My husband is trying to get his leave to see us over Halloween, so I know I have until at least mid-to-late-October for my timeline. I think he is trying to schedule his arrival around the 24th of October, which would give me 13 weeks. I would like to lose 20 pounds by the time he gets here, so I'll be working on an average loss of 1.5 pounds a week for 13 weeks. Definately reasonable considering the enormous advantage I have of no hunger pangs and restricted eating. A lossof 20 pounds would put me at 136 pounds, which I haven't weighed in 19 years. If I am weightlifting, I get the added bonus of probably looking like I weigh 125 instead of 136. I got to see that benefit when I was last weightlifting at UNL-- I lost very little weight but dropped an entire dress size and it shocked my family when I got back home. Heck, just look at LexySmash's photos at her blog and you can see what weightlifting can do for your body.

I know that my biggest problem is my water intake and my exercise regimen. It needs to be ramped up. I've had a good 'vacation' but I need to get back to work to take advantage of the last of my honeymoon period. Wouldn't it be wonderful to hit my 125 goal by my 15th anniversary on December 17th? It'd be great because I'd also have a chance to maybe have a tummy tuck before hubby headed back home for next May.

So, August 1st starts the beginning of this plan (although I am behaving today and drinking loads of water). Today's exercise will be mowing the yards and weeding and cleaning. I'll start back at the gym tomorrow. I told my mom about this plan and she said if I make it to 136 before hubby gets here, she will buy some really nice dress shoes to go with whatever outfit I buy to wear when I pick him up at the airport. Right now I am on the lookout for a red dress. Shoe shopping with Mom is always fun and knowing she can buy me a pair I might be unable to afford is a fun reward.

I picked up '300' to watch with the kids. The oldest missed it while he was in boot camp, so I can't wait for him to see this. Its an absolutely stunning film.
Gotta go, toddler on me!