Hungry*

Why do we like "Hungry" so much?

I can't believe how much they are selling for on e-bay. Anyone can go into a Weight Watchers Center to buy them and at a much lesser price.

It was raining today and "Hungry" needed her boots.

Check back to see where "Hungry" will be next.

*"Hungry" is a Weight Watchers product.

Weight Update

I haven't been good about posting. Things are good here. Johnny is finishing up preschool for the year. Grayson will soon be a year old, boy has this year flown by.

I have lost 25 pounds to date and am still hanging in there. Last weigh-in I was up one pound, my first gain since starting. A couple of weeks earlier Johnny and I went to Branson with Breanne, Dan and Grayson, so I am blaming it on that.

The boys had a good time swimming at Branson, I will get some pictures posted soon. We had a good time despite the rain.

A Little Bit About Our Family

I am a soon to be 55 year old. Eight years ago I retired from teaching elementary school for 25 years. DH is wonderful, we have been married for almost 33 years. He works for a lumber company as a purchasing agen.
This a picture from our DD's wedding a couple of years ago.





My DH and I have two kids. Breanne is 30, married and has a son that is 9 months old. Grayson was born with heart problems. He had surgery a few days after he was born and is doing well. He still has some problems.



Merit, our son, is 27. He has a four year old son, Johnny. Johnny stays with me most days. They live with us. Merit is going to school to become an EMT. He recently finished fire school. He hopes to get a paid firefighter's job.



This is a quick intro to our family.

Don't Quit

I am not sure where I got this poem. Hopefully, it will inspire us all to stay on program.

Don't Quit

When scales go "clunk", as they sometimes will,
When the goals you've set seem truly unreal,
When losses are low and gains are high,
And you're embarrassed and read to cry,
When clothes seem to have a snugger fit,
Get hold of yourself and DON'T YOU QUIT!!

You came to Weight Watchers because you wanted to learn
Just how to make those calories burn.
You needed help-weren't afraid to ask,
You knew it wouldn't be a simple task.
I'll tell you something I'm sure you know:
You don't give up when the losing is slow.

Your diet is a challenge, not simply a chore.
Weight Watchers friendships and fun can make it more.
Take part in your meetings; they're here for you.
There are offices and contest and programs to do.
You have a grand goal. Now strive for it!
You'll succeed as a loser if you JUST DON'T QUIT!



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It Has Been Awhile

It has been awhile since I posted anything new. Things are going good. I am doing well at WW. As of today, I have lost 16+ pounds.

Grayson recently spent the night with us and we had a good time with him. He is really growing. He has 4 teeth now, is sitting up and saying a few words. He will being staying with us again during the week of the opening Cardinal ball season.

Johnny is going back to day care three days a week. This time it has been much easier. He cried a lot when he was going before now not so much. We got a Wii and he is getting really good at it. He has great eye-hand coordination.

Merit is still going to EMT school two nights a week. He is going to be starting his clinicals soon.

Looking forward to the warmer weather. I plan to increase the time I have been walking. Johnny likes to go walking with me.

Will try to do better with updating.

Seven Days to Go

I am not sure where I got this but, thought it was appropriate. Probably, most of us have has these thoughts sometime during our weigh loss journey.

Seven Days to Go
That piece of cake I saved is near one big slice;
I have no fear,
beside no pounds will even show,
'cause I've got 7 days to go.

A day of shopping, to the mall we go
for a burger special, it's cheaper you know.
I'll walk if off, I have no fear,
6 days to go, no weigh-in near.

I think I'll skip my lunch,
a devil dog is what I'll munch,
tuna's getting expensive you know,
besides I've got 5 days to go.

For breakfast, one egg, toast and juice,
kids left their pancakes, of what's the use,
with inflation, to waste is a sin.
Beside its 4 days till I weigh-in.

For breakfast I'll have just coffee today,
maybe I'll lose more that way.
For supper a little extra I'll eat,
3 days before those scales I meet.

Boy this weekend is really rough,
restaurant menus are really tough.
I'll work this fried shrimp off, have no fear,
in just 2 days it'll be clear.

Now my nerves are really a wreck,
I might as well eat, oh what the heck.
I'll take tow Exlax late tonight,
1 day to go, it'll be alright.

Day to go
I can't afford to eat, no way
Six trips to the john might save my day.
I gained two pounds, wouldn't you know?
I guess I didn't have Seven Days to Go.

_Author Unknown

Pocket Guide Holder

Someone sent me this poem. I don't know the author, if you know, please let me know, so I can give credit.

When you've eaten too much and you can't write it down,
And you feel like the biggest failure in town,
When you want to give up just because you gave in,
And forget all about being healthy and thin...
It's your next move that counts...so don't you quit!

It's a moment of truth. It's an attitude of change.
It's learning the skills to get back in your range.
It's telling yourself, "You've done great up 'til now.
You can take on this challenge and beat it somehow."
It's part of your journey toward reaching your goal.
You're still gonna make it, just stay in control.

To stumble and fall is not a disgrace,
If you summon the will to get back in the race!
But, often the strugglers, when losing their grip,
Just throw in the towel and continue to slip.
And learn too late when the damage is done,
That the race wasn't over.. They still could have won!

Lifestyle change can be awkward and slow,
But facing each challenge will help you grow.
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint in a cloud of doubt.
When you're pushing to the brink, just refuse to submit.
If you bite it, you write it...but don't you quit!!


These are pictures of the Weight Watchers Pocket Guide holder I made.




The pattern can be found here, http://www.embroiderygarden.com

Our Hollywood Florida Trip

Well, it is Sunday night and we are back from Florida. We had a really good time!! But we are glad to be home. Johnny and the dogs are glad we are home.

Thursday
We had to leave our house by 3:00 a.m. (I'm not a morning person). Had no problems getting to the airport 2 hours early. That early in the a.m. there is no outside check-in so had to wait in a long line inside and the inside check-in doesn't open until 4:30 (could have slept another 1/2 hour). Made it through all security check points just fine.
After boarding the plane and the pilot starts backing out of the gate, a warning light comes on. The pilot says it is a hydraulic warning light and it is going to be checked out, should only take about fifteen minutes. He then comes back and says it is a computer problem and only needs to be reset. Shouldn't take long and we will be on our way. Then comes back and tells us that the mechanic doesn't like something that he sees and it needs to be repaired, so we sit some more. After a few more minutes they assure us that everything is fine and we leave. We were about an hour later getting to Miami.
The rest of the day was ours to do what we wanted. We walked along the beach and rested for a while in our room (I also have cold and coughed a lot).
That evening there was a welcome reception with "The Swamp" as the theme. Lots of food and drink and a live band that played a real genre of music.



Friday
Friday was a day of leisure. We spent our day sitting and watching the ocean waves, walking on the boardwalk and doing some souvenir shopping.
That evening we had a global leader speak to us, we didn't know until at dinner on Thursday night that it would be Bill Clinton. He addressed the group and answered some questions for about an hour. He spoke on the economy. He was very uplifting, saying things will get better. People need to figure out the how and what we can all do to help.




Saturday
This was our day to take a tour, our choice was Art Deco in the Fabled Playground. Were given a history of early Miami and the development. We went to the first hotel built in Miami. Nothing fancy. It is now a restaurant.
We continued to a couple of old hotels and toured some of their art deco characteristics. Also, went to Johnny Versace's house, where he was shot. It is now a hotel. Did some shopping and ate lunch on Espaniola Way.


That evening had a delicious dinner of swordfish and filet. American Idol winners David Archuleta and David Cook were our entertainment for the night.





Sunday
We left our hotel at 7:00a.m. to start home. For some reason we had to fly to Dallas then on to St. Louis. There was just enough time to get from one gate to another to come home.

Some of my Projects

These are some of my projects. The toys were made for Grayson for Christmas as well as the hat. The ornaments are made of left-over sock yarn.
It seems that socks are my favorite thing to knit right now.
I have been making some Easter items for Breanne to use in baskets as a fund raiser for Grayson's Heart Walk Team.
Also have been making hats for next year's craft show and for Hats for Alex. The Hats for Alex will be donated to children's hospitals.

Cuties!! Pictures of the Boys

Here are some of the latest pictures of the boys.

It has been a long time!!

It has been a really long time since I posted anything. Just haven't taken the time to.

Since my last post Grayson was born in June. He was born on a Tuesday and had surgery on Friday. He did great and is doing well. There are still some issues with his heart but things are good. He is growing and a real cutie. There are pictures posted here.




Johnny is with us all of the time now. He and his dad live with us. He has been here since October. He is into the Justice League. He still has a very active imagination. Today he has played fireman all day with his Grandpa. Merit is finishing up his classes for firefighting. Presently, he is taking EMT classes. When he finishes this class he wants to start Medic classes.




Tom and I are going to Florida on Thursday. He is going for work and I get to go with him. We are going to Hollywood, FL. We will be gone until Sunday. While there we are going to tour the ArtDeco Historic District with a group. There will be entertainment but, we don't know who it will be yet. Previously we have seen Kenny Loggins, Chicago, Dana Garvey, Wayne Brady and other lesser knowns. This company really wines and dines you.

This is where we are staying in Florida.