WHATS HAPPENING ---ITS WEDNESDAY AGAIN.

I am so sore today I think every muscle in my body is sore. I did a bunch of new exercises Monday morning and I cant wait to get back into the water aerobics today to work it all out. Am going to do those same exercises again to help those muscles and to work on them , they are all in areas that need lots of work. Today was really pretty out. Yesterday afternoon I sat out in the sun with a pair of shorts on to start getting some sun on my legs and arms. Felt so good but got into reading my book and maybe stayed just a little too long, pretty red but it will turn brown by tomorrow morning. I don't think I have ever burned really. Did a lot of house work in the morning then played some in the greenhouse and sat in the sun ,fixed a nice pot of homemade soup for supper and then watched American Idol. Very exciting day wasn't it lol Sherr: Was so good to hear the new about Lucus. That is wonderful. How is Bailey doing. What is the prognosis's for him? Oh I surely wish you could have been with us last night. It would have taken your mind off your problems for a little while. If ever you want to come up to a meeting you can stay at my house so that you don't have to drive back that whole way to the boot heel. A girl from your area came up to the meeting last night. 17 pounds from goal wow? I wish I could say that. That is truly amazing. I would think most of your headaches are really coming from all the stress you have been under. Your parents, your puppies. Just know that we love you and care about you hon. Keep us posted in what is going on. Debbie M: I know what you mean about knowing where David is , Im the same way about Joe and he about me. When one of us gets up at night the other one knows it. Thank you for praying for Joe and I. He is pretty well over all the crud he had and so far (knock on wood) I haven't gotten it so I guess his was all sinus infection. But he is over the worst of it. I think you pretty well covered the 500 word length. Lol. Janet: So glad you like the clothes. You will look really cute in some of them im sure. There are some in there that were my favorites but could no longer wear them this summer so will have to buy all new ones (isn't that awful)lol. I will be going to the thrift store soon to try and find some things to work in the yard in as I still am trying to lose more. Glad you all like the tomato plants. Hope they grow and give you all lots of tomatoes. Anything that I can help you with on flowers let me know I will see if I have the answer.lol Thanks for the compliment about my jeans. Lol Joe likes them. As if you all couldn't tell. Don't feel bad about what you didn't say to people last night. None of us get enough time with each other. I am really wanting to have an all day or all weekend get together. Soon as it gets nice. Doesn't matter where but somewhere central maybe others farther north and other areas could come too. That was so nice about the shelf and lamp that your husband did for you while you were gone. He must be a special guy too, like my Joe. Andrew: so how are the classes going? Glad that you and Susan got back to the gymn again. That is the one most important things that you can do for yourself. And Susan too. Oh my I hope you all get up here next month to the meeting. We really have some awesome meetings. Will sure enjoy the spider plants when you get up. And I will have things for you too. Tomatoes mainly. I know what you mean about getting warmer and working in the gardens. I will have so many plants to plant that I will be doing that for many days. On your meetings. There is a girl in the boot heel that drove all the way up to our meeting last night and said she was thinking of coming to the one in Fredericktown but read that it might be closing down. So it will take more than one or two meetings to get rolling. When is your next meeting? Vesta: I was so glad that you got there last night and you really looking good. Be sure and take lots of pictures at least every month so you can see the difference in yourself.It is hard to do otherwise. Or it is for me. I cant see much difference in the mirror but I can in the pictures. Weird isn't it? Don't worry about the weight you are doing really good. Melissa: I am with you about making the meetings longer. Especially since summer is getting here. Will be daylight lots longer. Melissa how far is Joplin from Mt Vernon? How big is your house you are going to rent? Is it big enough for someone with two little ones? Glenna: thank you for leading the Circle last night. You did a great job . yes we all did miss Claudette. But she did a good job picking you to lead the meeting last night. Hope you get all your ducks in a row soon so you wont be so overwhelmed. Tami: so glad those pesky scales weighed you less this morning. Yes I would be so overwhelmed if the scales started going back up . I can imagine how you would feel if you had reached goal weight and it started going up. Lana: You said only Claudette could inhale a sunflower seed, what about someone that sets their own hair on fire? Lol I think we all have to admit that we are more than a little accident prone in lots of ways. I agree with you about the loving and caring group , it really is. Debbie S: so great to see you last night too. Our first lap bander. That is great so now when someone else comes in with lap band you can help them. We will pray that your incision will heal fast. Rachael: certainly hope and pray that you and your mother will come to the next meeting. The support group is really a good one. Tell your mother she is really doing well with a weight loss already of 19 pounds great!!! Congratulations on the award you are being presented. That is wonderful. I called Lisa today , the girl at the meeting that was from Forsyth , she sat over there next to me. She stopped on the way home and bought protein power (ON 100% Whey) and the B complex and the calcium citracals. We had a nice long talk and she has already written down on the calendar when the next meeting is. Lol She really enjoyed it. Sandy: hope you will be back with us next month also quit lurking on the board and jump right in ok? Tammy Hughes: I cant imagine driving all the way up for the meeting and then driving all that way back to the boot heel. Was really nice to meet you and stay online with us. I promise you will learn and can teach us some things too. Tony and Colette: I know the turn out for the first meeting was a little slow but keep on keeping on it will improve as the weather improves im sure. And any of you that didn't go this month you just don't know what you get out of a good support group , it gives you so much to go home with. Eveyone in our group wants everyone else to succeed and do their best. Good cheering section. Brenda and Andrew: that getting in touch with all the people on line here that are in your area will really help too. You have people from the Bluff an from down in the boot heel and all around that have no support group. The people are there if you can contact them. Well all is gone from my head if I was going to write about anything else it has been forgotten for this time. Lol So will close and please all you Lurkers out there please post so we can get to know you. LOVE AND JOY AND PEACE ABOUNDS JAN

Hi Jan and OH Peeps~ WOW-what a day it was yesterday!! I went to the dr. and it wasnt good! I had 5, count them-"5" shots in my back...where that knot is the sz of a pancake (right below my bra where it hooks in back) on the left side of my spine....ok-so the shots didnt hurt-they were uncomfortable, but I told the dr that wasnt too bad and he said give it 10 minutes and you might change your mind....and when Jon and I left the office, I changed my mind-HOLY CRAP....so, he has given me restrictions this week with taking it easy, no toning, no pilates and I can walk-but not swinging my arms. Said no lifting etc and I told him a yr ago I would have taken that with pleasure-now-I dont want to sit on the couch and watch tv all day and night!! IF its not better by Monday-I have to go have x-rays and MRI. The lower knot (I call them ALL knots) he said IS a cyst and he wants me to see surgeon to be removed. I said it doesnt hurt unless someone touches it or applies pressure~ the one on the upper back hurts 24/7. So.....he is hoping that its a jumbled up mass of muscle-and if its not-the shot wont hurt it-me, yes-whatever it is, no....LOL. Asked him if it could be from all the weight loss and he said he doubted that since a lot of thin people have it too-but is concerning and so he wants me to take it easy and then go from there-PRAYERS PLEASE!!!! Thats all I can say-none of the pain meds I have taken have even come close to dulling the pain, much less getting rid of it-and my knees-well, I cant even feel them hurting cause the spot on my back hurts so bad.... As if MY day could get any better...LOL...I get home and call to see how much this medicine is going to cost me-cant get a signal with my cell phone inside (sometimes the metal roof interferes) so I walk out front-then just keep walking while I am trying to talk to the pharmacist that cant hear me-and I get about 20 yards from my front door and something catches my eye-there is a MAN out on the back of our property that is by the boat and camper etc (building is like carport with metal roof and 4 stalls for vehicles or whatever)....without a shirt and when he sees me looking at him, he runs to the open stall in the back where I cant see him anymore-I went and got the BIG dog out of his pen to stay by me-came in and got Jon and we went to Erik and Vikkis-they live a couple acres away, but there is a path we drive through our property to get to theirs....so I do-and this man can watch me do this since he can see their house too-well, they werent home-and I STILL cant get signal on my phone (how wonderful is that?) So, I go to Grandma Veras (thats what we call her) who lives on our property at the very end of the driveway...I took the road out front though so that guy wouldnt see me driving back....so she gets her gun and comes back with me-the whole time still trying to call the law to get out here....we get back there and he is gone-BUT....seems he has been living in that camper out there-the door had been unlocked/jarred open and the windows were wide open-and it didnt get stored like that-how creepy is that? That means he could have been watching us all the time from those windows since from my front porch we can see that camper!! We arent missing anything of ours that we can see....not sure how he is eating or going to the bathroom or whatever-but he is gonna be surprised when the big dog isnt in his pen at night for awhile....AND it explains WHY the past week or so-we have had to go out to see what the dogs are barking at ALL NIGHT LONG on and off-its the constant barking like something is there-and they bark at strays or deer or whatever, but all the times Mike and I have gone out this past week-havent seen anything (have a big flood light we flash around their penned area (its about an acre of land thats fenced) So much for leaving my door unlocked ever again or even my car....crap-I cant even live on 28 acres and be safe from wack-os. So, that was really disturbing to me...really disturbing..Mike is freaked out-that this was broad daylight and he was out there just walking around all the stuff (boat etc) and never thought he would get caught. Since Erik and Vikki werent home-feel like he knew it was safe to go through stuff and not be seen by them....and our garage is in the way when you come up my driveway to see him where he was-so......now I am guarded and cant sleep. Mike is in the livingroom on the chair sleeping and I fell asleep for an hour after taking a couple of pain pills-but then woke up and cant get back to sleep. Well, I am gonna get off here. I am still praying for anyone who needs them...my mind is too overwhelmed right now to remember everything and everyone off hand, but its written down and I am praying for you. Please take care and I will talk to you all tomorrow...LOL... Love, Janet

OMG Janet what a story!!! How creepy! I hope he doesn't come back and have you made a report of it? You should just so it's on record. CRAZINESS! I hope you are able to sleep tonight. We'll pray for this trouble to leave!!! Tami

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE! I didn't get a chance to post yesterday...but....I wanted to thank everyone at the meeting last night for being so NICE!!!! It was my first meeting and it was really interesting to hear all the things you guys talked about. It was also so great to meet in person some of the faces I have seen on the board. Thanks for the invitation to come back. I hope to drop in on yall again some time. But I will proabaly be attending the support meeting in Fredricktown because it is much closer. Andrew....If nothing comes up between now and the 12th I hope to make it to the support meeting. If you want I will even advertise the meeting some down in this area. I know in the beginning I had no ideal where the meetings were. I didn't even know abou this site until my SIL told me abou it. And I was tickled to find it. JANET C.........THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!!!! You have been such a sweeting and such a good friend on here. It was SOOOOOOOOO wonderful to meet you monday night at the meeting. Thanks so much for the clothes and the samples you brought me. AND THANKS SOOOOO MUCH FOR BEING MY ANGEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I couldn't have asked for a sweeter Angel! Well....maybe Mel! Can I have two angels hehehehehehe! MEL.....Thank you soooo much for the prtoein bars you brought me. I tried one when I got home Monday night.. I think it was peanut carmel crunch....It was really good ! But dang it was sweet ! I can't believe one week with out all the sugar and stuff and sweets are already becoming overly sweet to me now. It was great meeting the both of you and I hope we get the chance to meet up again and set and visit. Id love to get to know you both better. Thanks to all of you that mentioned my 12 lbs in your posts!!!!!!! To everyone that has not heard yet. I am in the beginning stages of my process for surgery. I am pretty big so Dr. Scott would like me to loose weight before my surgery. So Monday the 19th I started my liquid protein diet. A week later..Monday 26th I decided to weigh, in hopes I would see a 2,3 or maybe even 5lb loss so I would feel like I was actually accomplishing something. Well I almos fainted ! When I steped on the scales I had lost 12 lbs !!!!!!!!!!!!! I WAS ON CLOUD NINE !!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would have never guessed for such progress. It gave me such of feeling of....of ....oh heck I don't even know a good word for it. But now I feel like if I can make such progress on my own, then when I finally get to have surgery and get my tool to help me out even more, then I can surely do this and do WELL at it !!! Before I go I also want to thank everyone on the Mo board. I don't always post alot but I am on the board most ever day. Alot of the time several times a day. And it has been wonderful getting so much information about different issues. Thanks for sharing all your stories its been really helpfull to me as a newbie!!!! My prayers are with each of you.......Tammy H

Wow!! Looks like a lot going on around Missouri! Good Morning Everyone! I'm glad your meetings went well! Nothing much going on around here. Just a lot of peace and quiet! Thank you Lord! Janet....We live in the country too and I can guarntee that if I would of seen someone out in my back forty I would of grabbed my 700 mag, scoped out something real close to him and shot off a couple of rounds!! I promise you that guy wouldn't of stuck around long enough to get ANYTHING!! He would of been trying to out run my shots. I have a pretty good aim and I would of kept shooting just behind him, making sure he DIDN'T change his mind!! You want me to come down there? I could always use a little more targert practice! ...lol Seriously tho, be careful! You never know what someone will do, especially coming up on YOUR property and taking up home in YOUR camper!! That's pretty bold of him! If someone did that here, they'd probably die of lead poisoning!! Tammy...I very happy that you are so excited about everything. Congrats on the 12lbs. and all the new friends! That means a lot on here, to have the friends, support and love you need to get through this! Trust me when I say that they have picked me up more than once with love, prayer and support! Good Luck and Keep in touch!! Jan...burnt and in pain? Geez girl...be careful out there! I'm so fair skinned, if I even look at the sun, I burn! I have to take it nice and slow...getting a little sun at a time or go out with my skin covered! With me not being out in the sun much for years, I bet I burn real easy now! Antonio...I'm sorry for sending you Tami's post...don't know how I did that! With all the changes in this site I don't doubt it though! David and I are doing great, thanks for asking! Wyno is stilling trying to bully everyone but she is getting better at coming out to spend time with me and she loves being perched next to the aquarium. She trys to peck at the fish through the glass! Well, I need to be going. I have a hair appt later on but have things I need to do first. I will be praying for those that asked for it and those that didn't ask but they are still in need! Love & Prayers, Deb M

Hi Deb- We do have a shotgun, but this particular one I have never shot-but I still wouldnt say I would have taken it out since I was the only one here with the little guy-unless our lives were in immediate danger, you know? Mike took it out last night and went the perimeter of the property and shot off about 20 rounds-so IF he thinks about coming back-he will meet the meanest dog-and then the dogs owners gun!! I wouldnt want to meet EITHER!!! What scares me-is that if he was in that camper-how long? and then he knew we have 3 kids...so now this morning, I watched the kids walk down the driveway and waited for the bus to pick them up....we did call the law, and they said to call them back IF there was a problem again or something was stolen~like we expect them to come out for no action? I told Mike I would rather have a handgun, because its easier for me to handle-and I feel like thats important IF the time ever comes that I needed to do so-you know? Last night, he finally agreed, because with shotgun, I couldnt line it out properly and it wrenched on my back-so he agreed we would be getting something just for me!! I wouldnt hesitate to aim it close and fire it and watch someone crap their pants-LOL.....I hate it when people think its ok to mess with other peoples stuff!!! ARGH....I always thought if I had to shoot out here it would be a coyote or wild animal, you know? Not at someone messing around or breaking in....Oh well-I am not gonna let some dumb *ss make me fearful of my property that I consider a slice of heaven!!! Oh-and by the way-what a beautiful dog-I had one that looked like yours. Is that a golden retriever and a male? I had a male and he was darker, almost copper colored and gorgeous-yours is too-how old and all that? Love, Jan

Janet...I'm glad you have protection...these days, you just never know! We own several hand guns, revolvers, rifles, shotguns...most in the safe but we don't let people know which ones are in and which ones are out! Makes the bad people THINK! My 12 gauge shotgun has a pistol grip...doesn't hurt the back like the ones you would brace in your shoulder, it shoots from the hip or a little higher if you like. My 700mag is a high powered rifle and is only used for hunting. If I had to shoot at something long distance that would be the one to grab though! I have 2 handguns too but they are mainly for up close protection. If someone is threatening me I really don't want them too close...if you know what I mean! If, God forbid I had to use one to protect my home or family though, I would not hesitiate using any of them! My hubby has a few of his own as well....his favorite is his 50cal. handgun. I won't fire that one. My hand won't fit around the grip and a gun that doesn't fit your hand doesn't always send the bullet where you want it to go. The picture is of JAKE, he is one of my furbabies! Yes, he is a male golden retriever, he is a little over 2 years old, he weighs over 100lbs. and thinks he's a lap dog! He is the most docile dog I have EVER had...seen even! Everyone trys to tell me that all Retrievers are all high strung! I just tell them, they haven't met JAKE. They are a little intimidated by his size when he first comes in but when he gets into the room, he sits at your feet and waits...patiently! He knows he will get petted, it's just a matter of time...lol He lets people get use to him instead of him getting use to the people. Now outside, playing ball, chasing the rabbits, squirrels or birds he goes all out! When he was about half grown he almost took out my back fence chasing a ball. He now knows when to stop!...lol All he wants is to be loved, fed and be able to run!! He has a very LOUD, ALARMING bark when there is someone around that isn't suppose to be, we like that! He has fathered 2 litters and we got 11 pups each time. I'm thinking about getting another female later on. I will want at least one pup from him to carry on his genes and hopefully his personality! He is just an awesome dog! Everyone wants a pup from him but before my surgery I was too weak and sicky to keep up with all the dogs I had 2 female golden retrievers, 1 female yellow lab, 1 female Lhasa Apso, JAKE and 9 puppies to sell! I got rid of all but the Lab named GRACEE and JAKE. When I get some of this weight off, I might try to do the breeding dogs thingy again...we will see! I had named him JAKE but when my daughter was pregnant and knew she was gonna have a girl and that she planned on naming her daughter, Emily Elizabeth, if she would of done that I had planned on changing JAKE"S name to CLIFFORD (the big red dog)...her and I had a good laugh about it....but later on she decided to name the baby Emilie Paige so JAKE stayed named JAKE and it fits! I would bring him to show you all what a loving dog he is but with the distance, the rules and with the fact that some people don't like dogs, he will stay home. I definitely wouldn't want scare anyone away from a support group! Thanks for asking about him. I love talking about my babies!! Even the furry ones!! Deb M

Good Morning Everyone: It is so good to see so many people posting on the MO board here lately. Well today is my last day at the house. As you can see were getting an early jump on it cause I really dont want to spend all day over there again. I told my DH to remind me to call my MOTHER and he was like okay whats going on. I told DH I was going to tell my Mother that he is trying to kill me. LOL Not really but I sure am stiff this morning!!! Tammy: Thank you so much for the pic's. I took the one that looked like it was bursting all around it and put it as my desktop on my computer. I really like them!!!! Cant wait to see you again!! Janet: How is your back doing?? Stay home take it easy!!! I will cal you later on when I et into Joplin. Tara: I am so glad to see that your back home. You sure have been in all of our prayers!!!! Linda S: Aaaaaawww I am sorry to hear that your moving away from here. You sure will be missed. Please keep in contact and let us know how your going!!!! Jan: Your tomatoe plants are so pretty. I keep looking at Janets when I go over to my old house. We keep forgetting!!! Well the Ol' Taskmaster in headed my way with the bull whip. So I better get to moving. I hope you all have a great day. Soon I will be able to post like Jan, Janet, Tammy. Hmmmmm??? Love ya Melissa ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I was due for an appointment with the gynecologist later in the week. Early one morning, I received a call from the doctor's office to tell me that I had been rescheduled for that morning at 9:30am. I had only just packed everyone off to work and school, and it was already around 8:45 am. The trip to his office took about 35 minutes, so I didn't have any time to spare. As most women do, I like to take a little extra effort over hygiene when making such visits, but this time I wasn't going to be able to make the full effort. So, I rushed upstairs, threw off my pajamas, wet the washcloth that was sitting next to the sink, and gave myself a quick wash to make sure I was at least presentable. I threw the washcloth in the clothes basket, donned some clothes, hopped in the car and raced to my appointment. I was in the waiting room for only a few minutes when I was called in. Knowing the procedure, as I'm sure you do, I hopped up on the table, looked over at the other side of the room and pretended that I was in Paris or some other place a million miles away. I was a little surprised when the doctor said, "My, we have made an extra effort this morning, haven't we?" I didn't respond. After the appointment, I heaved a sigh of relief and went home. The rest of the day was normal. Some shopping, cleaning, cooking. After school when my 6 year old daughter was playing, she called out from the bathroom, "Mommy, where's my washcloth?" I told her to get another one from the cupboard. She replied, "No, I need the one that was here by the sink, it had all my glitter and sparkles saved inside it." NEVER going back to that doctor, EVER!! This is something I can actually see happening to me!!!!!!! Love ya Mel ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LOL that sounds like something I would do mel.....vesta

Hello, Missouri, Yesterday was a busy one for us at work. Never know from day to day here. I like to be busy. I got through to the Rheumatologist today and they are going to start me on Prednisone very low dose and then taper way down and hope that it will help with the pain until the Plaquenil kicks in. I have to have some relief and they seemed to understand finally. I am still excited about the COF meeting Monday night. We had some folks there *****ally were seeking advice and I think we were able to help them and reassure them that they are doing great. That's so rewarding and what many of us feel called to do. I am such a newbie that I don't have many answers but I've read lots and attended lots of meetings so I can sometimes help. Jan, thanks for the tomatoes. They are so cute and I hope to have a bumper crop to share with neighbors and friends. Pineapple tomatoes are something new for me. Must get busy now. You are all so dear to me. Hugs and love to all. Lana