WHATS HAPPENING--------T.G.I.F.

From the weather report looks like we might lose this beautiful weather for awhile. But that is springtime in the Ozarks , right? It is beginning to be spring anyway. As we all know it will go up and down for awhile. And the last frost for this area is usually April 30th so doesn't do much good to plant much before then. When you do you are taking a great big chance with it. I am so anxious that I don't know how im going to wait that long. I have planted things way before then and just be on pins and needles lots of nights. I got a phone call from Craig tonight , just wanted to talk. We had a good conversation about a little of everything. He said he is feeling good and walking about 3 miles a night. Wow that is a lot of walking. I wish I could do that but my knees just wont do it. I do well to walk a mile , and by the time I get done with that my knees are hurting so badly that I am almost crying. I am going to ask my doctor if the athletic knee braces would help when I walk. Does anyone else use those? Debbie M: Hey the jasmine that you ordered. I ordered 3 of those to put on this tunnel walkway that I constructed out of grapevines. It is the entrance into my shade garden. and about 20 feet long ,3 ft wide and bout 8 feet tall. It is really neat and I want some sort of vine to cover it thought the jasmine would be great , especially since it is everygreen and is Jasmine. Great smell. That is a very pretty rose. Looks like the old fashioned ones. Hope you are successful with your DD and the weight loss issue. It is a shame that some women think they have to let someone walk all over them to have someone in their life. Hopefully one day she will learn and be able to be enough for herself . Janet:Yes you really have had a lot to deal with lately. But just remember that God doesn't give you more to deal with than he thinks you can handle. I know that isn't sometimes doesn't sound like much comfort but just think how strong that God thinks you are. Lol Tell Mellisa hi and that we are all praying for her. And to think positive. It may be nothing much to worry about , really. Janet most of the time back pain isn't caused by the spine or the disc or any bones but by the muscles trying to aline and straighten and pull their way to be adjusted right. So if you do muscle relaxants it helps more than pain pills. That is the reason that massages and hot tubs and such feel so good. Lol they work on the muscles. Lana: oh so bad about the wig. But like Collette said the mental picture is sort of funny. I know it wasn't to you at the time and sorry that it messed up the one you liked best, not counting that if it caught on fire could have been really serious. Well im curious what is the recipe for the cauliflower sounds good. Anything with cauliflower has got to be good. You might try a sleep number bed with the arthritis they are really good. That is what I have and you can have it as soft or as hard as you like. You can have it hard for support and the pillow tops that are on it gives you fluffy so your bones don't hurt. Collette: wow sounds like you have really been busy at work. The fall could have been really dangerous but I guess we don't weigh as much as we did so you land maybe softer. Even though you are sore , nothing is broken,that is the good thing. No what is wrong with Melissa doesn't have to do with the hernia. But until she tells someone to post what it is, I'm sorry I'm not at liberty to tell you, she might not approve. Maybe she will tell Janet to tell everyone. But everyone needs to really pray for our Melissa thanks. Tami: wow what an experience with the water. Lol I have all my regular bills on auto pay just for that reason. Lol. I cant remember from month to month it seems what in the world I owe . So glad that your daughter is doing better. You sure are exercising a lot wow. I wish I could do that. I am lucky if I get in a mile walk and I do go to water aerobics 3 times a week but that is about it. So if I ever have any problems with insurance I will sure know who to call for info. Most people think that if it is on the bill they have to pay it . Andrew: I'm glad that you all will still get up to Springfield next month for the meeting and then up to Sedalia for you dr. Appointment. How much have you lost now? Have you been anywhere to weight lately? Sure am looking forward to seeing you and having you to stay at our place again. Yea! Susan I hope you like the job. That is good that they are letting you off the days that Andrew has to go to Sedalia. Be sure and see that you all can come up for the get together on June 19th in Sedalia. So glad that the bil is doing better and can now face another surgery. I know it wasn't a great birthday but it was still your birthday and hope you did something just for you. Guess what Friday, is going to be the birthday of my newest baby. Great grandson will make his appearance on this earth on the 23rd or so we hope. So far we have had a week of babies. Lol Will be waiting for the call from my daughter. Don't expect it to be too early though. We will see . LOVE AND JOY AND PEACE ABOUNDS JAN

Hi Jan and OH Peeps~ Well, its Friday...yeah!! My hubby took today off (he doesnt get very much time off where he works) and he is spending the day with our 4 yr old that has been wanting daddy bonding time lately....everything is about daddy. When daddy got called out of state Weds when we went on our pic-a-nic-he wasnt going to eat or play because he wanted so badly to wait and do it with his daddy!! So-today is all about them hanging out together and doing MANLY stuff....thats so cute. I have an appt this morning for Jon, and then going to help Mel and Terry do some of those little jobs at the house to be done. We did that last big (little stuff) load yesterday and so today will just be any little misc stuff left and cleaning. Then my ex in laws who I love dearly are coming down from Minnesota for the weekend and will be staying with my mom. When I heard they were coming down, I thought-I wonder whats wrong (LOL) those that have been following my posts know why I thought that now, didnt you? I imagine they heard about my ex husband-or that he wasnt looking good and wanted to check it out for themselves. They havent seen him in 2 years so its going to be hard for them this weekend. I am still excited to see them since we always stayed close and they treated me and the girls very well even after the divorce. They have always been great-but lived too far away to see often! Well, I got on the scale today and I have officially lost my 100# and I did it by my 3 month post op. I have had people ask if that was since surgery, nope. DO I count it? yes-for 2 reasons. Had I not been trying to lose weight to show I was a good candidate and get my BMI down, wouldnt have lost that much and kept it off this long without the surgery, so I count it. Its still 100# whether it was from surgery or end of August, so I count it....at any rate-it was 2:30 am when I weighed and I couldnt scream and holler cause I didnt want to wake up the kids-and I WANTED to do the happy dance, but I am just hurting too bad this morning...trust me, I will-but may have to wait till some muscles in back relax and hips and knees arent killing me.. What a mess I am...LOL My goal was to do that by my 3 months, which at the Dr. ofc is March 1st, but was Weds if you go by weeks....at least I hit one of my own major goals for myself and can honestly say this is the first time in probably 10 years that I have weighed this much (or little, however you look at it)...still have a ways to go, but am happy now to be getting there. Jan-congrats on a new baby AGAIN....man-how do you keep that info straight? LOL. At least they will all be close in age to play together at family gatherings..you will have your own little daycare of babies! I have walked with 2 different braces, the ones from Wal Mart for extra support when excercising etc (about $10-20 ea) and the ones from the dr(bigger and longer)-the ones from Wal mart were better cause they didnt cause as much rubbing and irritation on my knee/calf. Debbie M- thanks so much for your e-mail. You touched my heart. I appreciate you and what you had to say and I appreciate your prayers. Will you be at the meeting on Monday? Would love to meet ya. Well, have one more thing to do and then I think I might venture back to bed for awhile-have to try and get more sleep...maybe I can get hubby to give me a back rub, a hip rub, and the knees while I am at it-LOL....Thanks everyone and have a great Friday....Love to all, Jan

Hey folks, Glad Friday is here!! I don't like being homebound with a sick little one. Last night she broke out with a rash all over her arms and legs, it was gone this morning though. What's next? Poor kid! I'm getting all those small things done around the house that we never seem to have time for. So that is a plus I guess. Did my usual workout last night and seemed to have NO stamina! It was weird....I think I may have overdone it some. So tonight, no workout.....I'll go back on Saturday. Hopefully then I'll do better. See a lot of you all on Monday night!!! Have a great weekend everyone!! Jan I hope you find something to help your knees so you can enjoy walking more. Jim and I do a 3 mile walk through the neighborhood during pleasant weather. I like that more than a treadmill. Take care, Tami

Hi Jan, SUNSHINE!SUNSHINE!SUNSHINE!!! That's what we have today.Still running into road blocks on the apt. But have my social worker from MDA on it now talking to the head people so hope this takes care of it. I lucked out and found out my neighbor down the road knows my sister and he has fresh brown farm eggs for sale. Only $1.25 a dozen. They have been so high in the stores here. I love them so I can have more now. Jan and Janet I know what it is like with "ol arthur" He has really been bothering me lately.I know he will hit hard after surgery when I go off my arthritis meds. Congrats on the BABY BOOM. How fun this year will be. Mel you are in my prayers for your health. Andrew how is Susan doing? Tell her I am thinking of her. Lana you are too funny!!! I always said if I lose my hair I am going to use handkerchiefs to just poli**** once in awhile I also started my coffee and sugar free choc. syrup with ice and a little ice cream to make my own "moolatte's" so after I get this down with the right mix I am going to add protein. The one yesterday was soooo Good!I found the instant coffee in little packets at WalMarts like the other sugar free instant drinks are packaged. They are perfect to carry.I plan on carrying these around this summer and just get the slush mix from sonic and other places and mix my own when I need one. Hope everyone is doing better. Take care. Julia

Ok Jan- I fully understand. Thanks. Colette

Good Afternoon all....I wrote an post this morning but I accidently closed it instead of posting it...duh!! I was so mad at myself I just got up from here and started my day. JAN...Do you have any pictures of your grapevine tunnel? I would love to see that. What do you have to do to the Jasmine for the winter weather, anything? I love the old fashion colored roses, maybe because I'm kinda old fashion or is that just old?...lol I'm glad that you are talking to Craig, he worrys me sometimes with his eating habits. It's a mommy thing...lol What great weight loss though, huh? Yes, I pray that my daughter gets her life straightened out and that she works with me on the losing weight. I'm not pushing anything though. I can tell though, she's wanting help. I just need to start slow and steady and see if she is willing to do all that's needed. She's gotten a little too use to sitting in front of her TV. ANDREW...I'll be in Sedalia on March 9th but I won't be at Dr H's office. This will be for my first fill and that will be done at the hospital. Maybe someday we will all get to meet. JULIA...Thank you for thinking I'm funny! Anytime I can make someone smile or laugh it makes me happy!! You sound better than you have for awhile...things getting better? JANET...your welcome but God is the one that deserves the praise!! I was just the typist! I won't be at the meeting...that's the one in Springfield, isn't it? That's too far away with David getting up early the next morning and I don't drive at night! Sorry!! CONGRATS on your weight loss. I can't wait for me to be there!! Tell Mel I said Hi and that I finally got my own protein powder delivered! I love this stuff! SHERR...Know that I'm praying for you sister! I know how painful having a animal/best friend sick like that can be. I will include Bailey in my prayers! I do believe in miracles! LANA...You poor girl! I can understand what you must be going through with your wig burning and they are sooo expensive! I have to say though like everyone else on here, I had to chuckle...that sounds so much like something I would do! Well, I'm going to post this before I accidently delete it again or the website freezes up again! God Bless...Deb M

Debbie M, your messages ALWAYS lift me up. Thank you. I posted (I think) that Bailey is appearing to feel a little tired, but that's all I notice different since before surgery. BUT THE BAD NEWS, my blonde puppy, Bailey's brother has a lump too, I checked him out thoroughly th other day, and Lucais has a pea sized knot on his breast bone. I just can't take anymore heartache right now. I am taking them both to the Vet on Monday morning. I am just maxxed out right now. My dad just had knee surgery, and I took my mom today to begin her processes to have something done with hers. and Mentally I am just exhausted..... I think of all of you ALL the time...just burdened right now, and don't want to bring you guys down. XOXO S

Sherr, You are never a burden. I look forward to hearing from you. We will keep both babies in our prayers and you too! It seems like when it rains it poors and we all have been drenched lately!!!!! I have 37 days left till you have to scoot over on that bench girl. Things have got to get better for us all. Julia