So today is my 2 year surgiversary. I'm sitting at 153. I'm actually happy to be there, but I know I'd probably be in the 140s by now if I would stop indulging myself in a few things. I'm also losing track if my protein intake and although I know many veteran RNYers don't feel they need to do that beyond a certain point, I'm not one of them. I definately need to know if I'm coming underthe minimum 60 grams of protein per day. I do not want to get sick and I definately do not want my body cannibalizing my muscles to make up for the differance. It goes for the heart first and I have a history of heart conditions in my family already.

I can eat almost anything except for a few food items... like rice. Yesterday I had a little bit of angelhair pasta, yet today, when I tried to eat it my stomach got really pissed off and I was in a lot of pain for about twenty minutes. So I will be skipping the pasta for awhile beacuse good Lord, I do not want to go through that again. Since rice and pasta give me absolutely nothing I need, its not much of a sacrifice, really. Corn also gives me fits and hurts like hell if I don't chew enough, as well as brocolli (I so miss this vegetable). I can only handle miniscule amounts of lettuce, so I still do not use it in salads.

My goal for next June is 125 pounds. So I want to lose 28 more pounds. I have the tummy tuck and breast lift with some liposuction planned for next June... if I were to lose just ten pounds I will still be extremely happy and follow through with my plans. Hell, I'd do it now if I could as I'm sick to death o this tire around my abdomen and saggy breasts. Thank God for bras.

So I'm going to try to concentate on losing about 3 pounds a month for the year. I'm going to take my measurements on August 1st as well as the weigh-in here.

I have tried running but my excess skin and booty bounce a lot and it kinda hurts and makes me very self-conscious. So I just walk. I really should use the time Logan is in daycare for working out on the weight machines at the gym, but I'm being a total geek and I drive home and play EverQuest 2 with no interruptions instead. Since we can take Logan on the track to ride his bike while I walk... I don't feel too bad about it. Ok, I feel a bit guilty, but damn, its so nice to play in the mornings with everyone in the States who are playing at night!

I'm going to go see hubby on base and watch him play softball. Then I will have him take Logan home with him and I'm going to walk for a bit. I had such a bad day with food, I really need the endorphins from walking. :)

We've settled in nicely at our townhome. We have Japanese cable through Mediatti and the AFN satellite was installed yesterday. We use iTunes to buy Stargate Atlantis and rent movies, so we usually have something new to watch. We also have a budget each month for buying dvds and Blu Rays at Amazon.com. Right now we're waiting for a shipment which inclused Stargate SG1's newest movie, Continuum in Blu Ray-- it comes out on Tuesday so we probably won't see our movies until mid-August.

The movers in the US busted a lot of our stuff so for the first time we'll be filing a claim. They royally scratched up our dresser, warped the boards to our brand new bed set, and ripped up the brand new side table as well. They broke our favorite standing lamp, crushed another, broke two bookshelves, and busted a desk chair into two pieces. The Japanese movers were royally pissed off-- it seemed embarassing to them to show me broken items. In fact, they even tried to fix a couple of things, but I told them not to worry about it. The Japanese movers were extremely polite and worked very hard and efficiently. That seems to be what the majority of Japanese workers do-- we even see McDonald workers running from plae to place to get orders out

Our teenager has made a friend through her high school's welcoming program. Logan is enjoying going to daycare every so often. In a couple weeks he'll be doing his evaluation for speech therapy and will start that school before the end of August. I think he will be going a half day. He's become obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine and the Cars movie. He is over the moon for Hot Wheels. He doesn't have very many right now, but I am sure his inventory will grow this year.

Hubby is teaching classes already but he is still not in the position he would like, although he does have one with some responsibility. He is looking forward to doing what he does best, which is training others, but he's fine if he remains in section on patrol duty. He may come up for duty in Afghanistan or Iraq later this year and some of those taskers are for 9 months. That wouldn't bother me too terribly much-- I feel comfortable in our neighborhood and I understand the process for moving on base should that happen while he is gone. I am actually surprised how comfortable I am here... I enjoy going out and seeing the community.

We have started exercising as a family by going to the track on base. I walk, our daughter walks and runs, hubby runs, and we let Logan ride his big-wheel-like bike. I'm really enjoying doing that.

Its almost my 2 year 'surgiversary.' I am really thankful how the gastric bypass has changed my life.

I'll put up pictures of our home soon. Possibly tomorrow!

We're preparing for our move to the townhouse on Friday. Luckily, we get the keys on Thursday and we can drop off several items at the house in the evening. We'll be dropping off our Turkish rugs, our luggage, Logan's bike and toys along with our daughter's new twin bed we're buying at Notori.

I met with the cable guy from Mediatti. Signed up for an internet ( 30 mbps) and cable package which will be installed Friday afternoon/early evening. So I should be able to put up pictures and such this weekend! We get 20 English channels with two of them being HD (Discovery channel and La La channel). We are also being given a satellite dish from the military that gives us American Forces Network channels, which I think is 9 of those... so we'll have stuff to watch. I'll be watching Big Brother 10 via the internet and using my forums, so at least I have that guilty pleasure as well. The kids will have Cartoon Network, Disney Toon and Disney channel as well as a AFN family channel. Hubby will actually have 5 differant English sports channels. He's a happy camper. Everything together was less than $95. Not bad.

I walked the 5k route last week in an hour and I was really happy about it. That night I finally caught the cold that hubby had and then Logan got it, too. I'm feeling better now, but I probably have another 5 days before I'm up for doing the 5k again. I am happy to say that I am definately losing weight again. My clothes are getting loose and I'm noticing subtle changes to areas like my abdomen, rib cage, and my thighs. I'm also looking for a jeweller who can resize my rings. They almost flew off the other day and it shocked me.

Logan's potty training is going well. Sending him to daycare for just a few hours a day seems to be helping. Yesterday he said three new phrases... not clearly, but he was saying something new and that's all I cared about. He said, "Bless you" and "I love you, too!" and "Where did it go?" Awesome.

Time to go pick him up then head out for lunch with hubby. Then we are heading out to the Yamato Police Department to pick up or parking permit stickers and heading to a local department store to buy curtains. Found some cheap sheers we can usethat cost just 1000 yen a panel. Think I can get sheers up for all of our downstairs windows for about $80.

Ok, gotta dash!

Hail to the 3 year old King of my heart!

Logan takes his own photo... not bad at all.

So Logan is three years old now and today he started wearing underwear exclusively at his daycare. He made it until noon without an issue, until we attempted to go out and shop. After a pooping accident then a peepee accident later, we put pull ups on him. I honestly can't remember how I did it ith my other two.

Oh and the irony of the poopoo accident? He did it in the thrift store while I was perusing Potty Training Sucks. Yeah, I went back and bought the book.

We found two lovely Turkish rugs for our townhouse. I can't wait to move in. Just 10 more days!!!

Caroline asked if there is anything I do not like about Japan. So far the only things really have to do with base services. I do not like not having an ER available here 24 hours. They have 'triage' until 4pm and nothing on the weekends. If I want to have myself or my kids seen by a military doctor, I have to pay either train fair or tolls to get to Yokota AFB or Yokosuka Naval, which means 1.5 hours trip. A true emergency would have me and the kids at the nearest Japanese hospital hoping that they have an interpreter. Now, there is a small ER staff here, but if you have no broken bones or something in that vein, you must wait until the following morning (or Monday).

Otherwise... I really am enjoying the people here. I see that people are much more mindful of their behavior here and the Japanese politeness definately rubs off. I so wish I could take Japanese customer service with me to America.

I am sure that as the euphoria of being in a foreign country wears off I will have things to bitch about. Just not right now!

I am registering with the University of Maryland and finally getting back to finishing my Bachelor's degree. Woooboy, more student debt! whee!