Morning Carla We have a week of shopping planned. We also want to go see some lights and get into the holiday mood. Life is a mixture of family stress and enjoyment being here (back home). But we'll get through it and I'll try to remember the good and forget the bad (not something I'm very good at) Trying to shop for my 7 year old with her in tow is stress city!!! Plus trying to find something that she wants - she is asking for a Nintendo DS as that is what her friends want. She has no idea really what one is - so do I search high and low for one (they sell out like hot cakes) or do I try and find something more appropriate for her? At least here they are half the price they are in Britain! And I get to 'share' it in the evenings after she has gone to bed Not doing too bad food wise, but am not around any scales so have no idea how it is impacting my weight. Perhaps that's a good thing? I'll find out when we get home after Christmas...I hear the 5 day plan calling my name!!!

So how was everyones weekend. I finished up most of my xmas shopping and had a hugh party at my house on Saturday night. We had a blast. Made my homemade spagetti and everyone rode the trolley around to see the lights.. good time was had by all. Sunday I was working on my pc at home. It has been having a lot of problems and I ended up re-formating the hard drive.. darn kids.. go on all those weird sites and messed up my pc. So I am working on putting everything back on the thing. lol.. loads of fun you know. Got another busy week at work. I cant believe how many calls we have during this month. I am going on vacation for 2 weeks at the end of this week so I am affraid to see what we get when I get back..lol Hope everyone is having a fantastic week and a great holiday season. So how are you all doing.,. Carla

Holly, One of the important things with your surgery is the physical therapy afterwards. My mom had one knee done, hated the therapy, but forced herself to go as far as she could each time, which really helped with her recovery. It's sad that Christmas can be so trying for children. They haven't developed good coping mechanisms yet and tend to just act out. I guess all you can be is supportive and patient with them. Happy B'day (a bit early because I am going to forget later)! Diane

Hi Ruth I am told it will be hard core pain for about two to three weeks, I am not able to drive for at least three weeks for the left knee and two months for the right knee. I have to promise to have live in help for the first three days and someone on call for two weeks. I am at the point of being a bit scared but knowing that it will be worth it in the long run. I hope that I don't get more nervous toward the date, I am not a nervous person but the thought of bone pain can get me going I fear. I have three kids right now, aged 11, 11, 12 all boys with psychiatric challenges. It is very sad this time of year because one of the boy's mothers died on Christmas (it will be two years this year). It is the casual comments that hurt them the most, one of my other boys is having a family visit for the first time this year and he is all excited. We were driving from the store the other day and they were talking about presents, and I gave them the whole talk about better to give than to recieve and he said that all that was important was that family gets together... and my other boy burst into tears and said that he couldn't see his mom cause she was in heaven and the other boy got mad because his mom is in Toronto. So now everyone is feeling bad... and nothing can really be done about any of it. I was born just before Christmas, that is why my name is Holly. Apparently I was supposed to be a boy and when a girl popped out, they had to come up with something else. That is the family lore around my name. My mom was born the day after (dec 23) and her name is Edna, so they did a better job with my name.

I added the sunglasses smiley in the hopes that the Texas sunshine shows it's face today Anyway, I'm hitting Walmart and other stores today - can't wait to see what US clothing size I am. I also want to stock up on protein shakes/snacks etc. Where do you buy yours from? Anyone know which ailse in Walmart I need to look? Or do I need to go to a pharmacy? Thanks - I really want to try and lose some pounds over the holiday, not pile it on like I used to.... It will also be the first time I get to try on normal size clothes here and I cant wait. I've never shopped for normal sizes in America - I haven't a clue where to start, but I've got 3 weeks to sort it out My hubbie won't know what'**** him