Friday August 11

Weight 114.75, calories 822. We are off to visit friends at Newfound Lake in NH today through the weekend. It is a very peaceful and beautiful spot. We once considered buying a summer home there, but decided not to because it was too far a drive and we couldn't retire there (cold and desolate). We bought the house we live in now on Cape Cod instead. Good decision!

Paula, I saw that Ben is doing great and taking over a lot of his care. What a strong man he is!

Have a great day and start to the weekend!

TGIF!

Liz, that place in NH sounds great! Try not to get addicted to opioids while you are there ;)

Paula mentioned getting back to structure. Getting clicked back in, like a puzzle, isn't easy. Sometimes a piece is missing (and you can't remember what it looked like) or the puzzle itself has changed. I have had some success in this the past few days, mostly by adding formal exercise in at 5am. That's right.....5am!

Seattle winds might change late today and the air can clear. Carbon, fingers crossed for you folks, I'm not sure that the fires themselves have been stopped? Take care up there.

Do a rain dance and maybe blow hard :)

Shel

I'm usually up by 5, but I'm drinking coffee in my PJs, not exercising!

Weight: 135.8
Macros: Cals - 1,575 , Carbs - 187, Fat - 54, Protein - 95, Fiber - 31
Veggies/Fruits: 5
Sleep: 7 hours
Exercise: Yoga class

Happy Friday, all!

Yesterday I gave up 5 vials of blood for my third annual VSG annual checkup blood panel. I'll report results when I get 'em. Sure hope they are good.

I will see my surgeon's team for Surgiversary #3 checkup on August 29. I hope the timing of that appointment will moderate my vacation eating while we're up in Vancouver. :)

Paula, glad to read on caringbridge.com your Ben is recovering so well from surgery. BB, hope you're weathering the first trimester digestive issues well. And sending everyone else wishes for some lovely last few weeks of summer.

Boy, that week went fast! T.G.I.F.

I don't know this caringbridge site, but glad to hear that Paula's DH is doing well.

I'm up a tad more to 161.8. My stomach issues are pretty okay, actually. Thanks for asking, Ann. Maybe moreso than normal. Ever since vsg and gallbladder, I've had an "urgency" potty issue. But I guess thanks to 1st trimester yuck hormones things have slowed. But not stopped. That's the key.

We took DSD to dinner and a movie last night. We're moving her out on Saturday morning.

Did I mention my DSS moved back in with us? What a pill! He has such lacking motivation and such anger towards everyone. We've helped him with college twice now (and he just didn't go to class--without dropping). He's 23 years old and we're struggling to find the balance between not wanting to see him in a bad situation, and knowing that we cannot be enablers and believing some tough love might help. But he's just so angry at us! Hates everything his dad stands for--which is especially bizarre because his dad didn't have anything handed to him, and came up from nothing. But his son's perspective is that his dad should just give and give to him. The fact that his sister (5 years his junior) is doing so well, and we're moving her out to college and paying is fueling his anger at us--although he forgets that not only did we do this for him TWICE, but he completely wasted it. He has had one job (for 2 months) in the past year--and yet he wants to go get a car and loan, and find a place already. He's just making so many bad decisions!!! I guess I just wanted to vent here because I know some of you may have experience more than I do. Luckily his dad is mostly seeing through it now. But I worry it could be a stressor on us because if there's one thing I cannot handle, it's helping someone who is continually bashing us! I'm like mama bear when it comes to DSS saying anything about my husband. For example, DH let DSS borrow his second car and said he could continue to borrow it so why the rush to get into a car (he can't afford). DSS's response: "only douchebags drive cars like that." So if that gives you any idea... I actually think he's suffering from anxiety and depression and may need counseling and/or medication, but unfortunately he refuses that idea.

ON a HAPPY note: I bought a fetal doppler and it came in the mail yesterday! We found baby's heartbeat at 165!! It's pretty surreal. I still have trouble believing I'm pregnant sometimes, so that's super reassuring and awesome. Two heartbeats in my own body! What a miracle! DSD wanted to witness it too. We've had plenty of our own relationship struggles (I started dating DH when she was 12...not the best time for a girl!) but things seem to have really smoothed out. I still try to be aware of things that could cause her upset or awkwardness, but I think right now she wants to feel involved and not excluded.

Best wishes for dealing with DSS......so difficult when you want only the best and they are so ornery. That car story tells it all.

Unfortunately, it sounds like he needs counseling and probably medication, but if he's not willing to get it, you may need to play hard ball.

Wow! You can have your own Doppler these days! I think the baby will definitely bring DSD closer (and ultimately DSS potentially, but maybe not yet).

DSS sounds extremely immature and unfortunately probably needs at least some time and perhaps counseling to work through his feelings. Sounds like he would have been 17 when you started dating his Dad? 17 for our DS was like 12 for DD (hormone timing maybe?). Our son was very angry at everyone around that age. He matured a lot by mid-twenties, but none of our grown children (we have 4) were truly mature until at least 25-26. A late bloomer could need more time.

205.2. I think the tomatoes I am eating may be helping the downward trend. Regardless, I am not slowing down on the tomatoes any time soon. Got my first less than awesome one today. Disappointing, but I had plenty with me to take its place.

Garden tomatoes are the BEST!!!!!