Happy Sunday to our loving OFF Family.

Good morning everyone....

So what is new with you?

I woke up at 7:00 and had a protein drink and a protein bar. Too early for me to think of eating a meal. I balanced my checkbook and paid rent (Sept.) and my cable bill. My electric bill hasn't come yet. My insurance is automatically taken out of my account as is the money I put in savings each month. That is all I have to pay until next month.

I have no plans yet today. I am going to take another day to rest. The pain isn't quite so harsh today. I will be relaxing and icing my body. That is what I did yesterday and it worked. 

I need to get back to my walking each day. I didn't do it when Grace was here. I had enough going on. 

I sure am missing that little one. It is so quiet around here now. There was always so much laughter and love. 

I will be checking in off and on today. Wishing everyone a beautiful day!!

Pay It Forward today if you can....or do a Act of Kindness. It will make you feel good!!

Prayers for our beautiful Off Family and their families.

I look forward to hearing from Judy as I am sure she will have lots to share!!!!

I am sure Vickie and Carrie are having a great time shopping for little Pita Piper! They need that special time together!! I love Vickie and her wonderful family!! I am still praying for them as they continue on this new journey without Butch. I know there are good times but also hard times as well. 

I love you all...giant hugs...connie d

Good morning Connie and sweet sistas,

I'll try a post this morning but I'm on my phone.  Carrie and I are taking a day of rest today. It's 10 and I just woke up.  She's up but lying in bed listening to Harry potter.  I think baby is giving her fits this morning. 

Yesterday we shopped and shopped.  It was fun and exhausting!   I never had done anything for her birthday last May so I bought her new underwear and nursing bras and made a start on some maternity clothes.  We hit several of the resale shops and also a couple of stores in the mall were having sales.  We got her some leggings, a pair of jeans, a pair of black slacks and a pair of gray slacks.  Her boss is adamant about her not working in the lab around all those chemical next semester, but he's wavering about what he wants her to do instead.  At first he said teach but then last week he said he wanted her to be a grader.  So she needs some outfits that would be dressy enough to teach in. Hence the slacks. We also found some cute maternity tops. It's so dang hot here through the end of October.  Mostly we bought short sleeved things but did find a couple of long sleeved tops for later on.  She'll be going into her sixth month by November and I've seen it be hot here until nearly thanksgiving. 

Anyway we also had a grand time shopping for fabrics. It's too soon to buy much. She has decided on aqua and gray for sure.  Then if Pita is a girl she wants lavender as the POP of color.  If Pita is a boy she wants yellow.  I did find a remnant bolt of a terrific pale gray with a little aqua paisley print. I need 5 1/2 yards for the crib bed skirt and guess what?  Yep! 5 yards and 25 inches left in the bolt!  Score!  60% off!  So I bought some aqua and white polka dot cotton for a crib sheet and also some aqua and white flannel for a little receiving blanket.  Those things I can make now if I can ever get a corner cleared out in my house in which to sew. 

But the biggest thing I bought her is a rocker recliner for her nursery. I have a picture to share with y'all when I get home on my computer. Christie is giving her the crib and changing table so I dint have to buy those (like I did when Benny was born) and we had a little white chest of drawers in the garage, so I don't have to buy that either. So I had the money to buy her the chair.  I told her I would buy the chair and the fabric fit the nursery and do the sewing of course. The rest will have to come from baby showers and her own resources.  I'm sure my mom will buy her a travel system.

Did want to tell y'all that she decided to tell Leo about the baby and he was a total ASS about the whole thing.  I knew he would be.  Wants her to get rid of it and wants no part of it etc. Told her he doesn't love her and that he has a new girlfriend now.  I think she was a bit surprised by how vehemently he disclaimed any responsibility for her or the baby, but I wasn't. Thankfully she doesn't seem to be overly hurt by his reaction. And she's very excited about the baby.  So good.  She doesn't need him. Sayonara and good - bye Leo! 

So this is a long post.  I'm going to try and copy it before I hit submit.  If I lose it, Connie will heart my screams ask the way to Minnesota!  LOL! Love you all! 

Hello my sweet Vickie....

I am glad you are taking a day to rest. You won't be so tired when you get back home.

It sounds like you made some wise purchases yesterday. She is all but set for now! That rocker recliner is really a nice gift!!!

As far as HE (Leo) goes I am not surprised. He is so immature anyway!! I hope Carrie gets his denying paternity in a written legal form. His parents could fight for custody of the baby if there isn't a signed agreement in place. I am sure you are aware of that. I am glad Carrie isn't taking this hard.

I have been missing you here on Facebook....we all have. No rush back...do what you need to do. I just wanted you to know.

I love you much...HUGS....connie d 

YES.  We have discussed having him legally renounce his paternal rights.  For sure.  No changing his mind later on and screwing up Pita's life or Carrie's, for that matter. If he bails now it's for good. 

Vickie...I knew you would have that paperwork with Leo taken care of. I agree if he does it now it is for good!!!!

I hope Carrie never has to deal with him ever again and certainly not Pita!!

More love and hugs to you...connie d

Good afternoon Connie and OFF-

Well it's Sunday and I'm trying to motivate myself to clean and get ready for a showing this week.  I've mowed the lawn and started the cleaning but I'm taking a break.

Connie continue to rest and ice if that helps the pain.  I am so glad that you had fun with Grace and I know she will cherish the time she spent with you.

Vickie I love the color scheme that Carrie has chosen.  Glad you are having fun buying clothes and doing things with her.  Good that Christie can "hand down" the stuff for the nursery.  I'm happy she told the "sperm donor" but unhappy about his reaction.  Thankfully Connie advised about getting him to relinquish his parental rights now as that was what I was thinking when I read his reaction.  I have a dear friend who was in a similar situation and had to get relinquishment later after the baby was born.

Well as I said I got the lawn mowed.  I'm slowly picking up and putting away to clean the place.  Have to sweep the porch today and clean out the cabinet on the porch so it can be packed.  I have all this porch art that I hang each year.  I didn't even bother to hang it this year, so I'll sort and pack in the next day or so.  I find myself walking around the place and noticing all the "defects" that a prospective buyer might notice.  When I see the "defects" I mentally estimate the repair costs and begin deducting from my listing price.  Silly that I keep putting myself through this mental exercise.

Tomorrow is the discussion with the financial planner about the lump sum pension buyout offer.  That's hanging in my mind as well.  Needless to say my stress eating is out of control.  Ah well, it will all pass and get settled down eventually.  I'm also remotely coordinate a waterbird survey at the Refuge in Texas.  Always fun when you get calls from the surveyors asking how to use the GPS and you don't have the directions in front of you.  Just one of those days.  

Well now that I've vented I'll head back to cleaning.  Thoughts going out to all of you.  Hope you are all having a good Sunday.

Cindi B.

Hello Cindi....so sorry it has taken me so long to get a reply to your post. I have been sleeping off and on most of the day. 

You are doing great getting everything done. You mowed and are cleaning. The porch must me done by now. I am hoping by now 7:45 PM that you are relaxing and enjoying the evening.

 I am with you, I too love the colors that Carrie and Vickie are using in the baby room!! Vickie always has such good taste!!

Good luck tomorrow with the financial decision. I am sure you will choose the right thing to do. 

Stress eating...oh yeah...got me by the horns!!! I am over eating...grabbing things all day long!! I lost that 26 pounds and I am afraid to weigh myself!!! I know I have packed some of that back on...if not all.....I am not happy with myself!! I am sure you haven't done any worse then I have!

You quit looking for defects...that cabin is just great the way it is!! Quit being so hard on yourself! Those people won't be looking for the small little things...that just adds character!!

How do you manage to do so much? You coordinate a waterbird survey in Texas from where you are now. That is amazing especially without the directions!!! You are awesome!!

Love and many hugs to you....connie d 

Greetings Connie and OFF,

I'm enjoying the afternoon, watching the Phillies, and hanging out.  I have stuff to work on, but had a bathroom issue earlier that has left my prissy pouch a little queasy just now.

I have some major organizing to do, and I really want to put my barbecue grill together this week.

I only got to see Lincoln at church this morning.  Izzy and Frankie both have colds.

Well, I better scoot.

Love and Hugs,

Trish

Hello Trish....sorry I am late replying...I slept a lot today!!

I hope your feeling much better now. Nothing worse then feeling queasy and trying to get things done.

You bought a new grill...I hope you manage to get it together soon. You are always so busy!!

Sorry Izzy and Frankie are sick with colds. I hope Lincoln doesn't catch it.

Have a good evening...love and hugs to you...connie d