What day is it?

The Memorial Holiday totally has me all messed up. I keep thinking it's Monday, but it's Tuesday! Best thing ever. =)  Also.  Josh doesn't have to go out of state tonight, and usually he does.  Bestest thing ever!

I am just hanging out.  I still don't have my scale back, and my sister forgot hers over the weekend.  So I don't know how much I weigh, but I'm guessing I'm still hanging out right around 140.  I would really like to lose 15 pounds.  I did some research on the 17 Day Diet and I think I'm going to buy the book, depending on how much it is.  It's only available online.   I just checked it out and it's only $15.00.  I need to discuss with Josh, but I think I'll do it.  Basically you do 4 "cycles" that are each 17 days, eating only specific things per each cycle. 

I found out about it through someone's blog... Whitney at Slimming Down for the Gown.  It seems to be working for her, and she only has 10 pounds (less now) to get to her goal weight.  So I'm going to email her and see what she really thinks of it, and then I'll probably try it out. 

I wish I could just do a round of HCG because I *know* that works and I know I'd lose the weight I want, but it just messes up my hormones too much.  And we don't have the hundreds of dollars it costs for me to go visit Dr. Ray.  Last time I went it was over $500 between air fare, hotel and the actual visit.  Yikes. 

Anyway, I'll let you know what I decide, and of course I'll blog about it while I do it. =)

Hope you had a great weekend!

Friday 'Fess Up

I confess:

*The last two nights I haven't been in bed/asleep until after midnight.  And that just doesn't work for me.  I'm a person who needs sleep to function.  And since my kids have been waking up earlier than usual, this is not such a good time to be staying up late. :-P

*I am super excited for the long weekend.  We don't have any specific plans, but just the fact that Josh will be home with us is reason enough to be giddy!

*It appears I absolutely can not drink alcohol.  The last 3-4 times I've had one drink (and I'm talking a wine cooler-nothing crazy) I've thrown up. 

*I made Caribbean Chicken Salad yesterday and it's super delicious and can easily be made low fat.  Here is the recipe:

Caribbean Chicken Salad
2 c diced chicken (I always use Rotisserie chicken for the flavor and simplicity)
1/4 c diced celery
1/2 c red grapes, halved
1/2 c mayonnaise (you can use fat free)
1/2 c sour cream (again, you can use low fat or fat free)
1/2 c mango chutney (I've found it at Safeway and Fred Meyer here on the west coast)
1/2 T curry powder, or to taste

Mix the mayo, sour cream, chutney and curry powder first so the flavors can start melding.  Cut up remaining ingredients and then toss with the dressing.  Cover and chill for 30 minutes or longer.  It tastes even better the next day.  We eat it on croissants or with crackers.

*My kids are still acting whackadoodle.  Going on week 3 now.  Help.

*I haven't weighed myself because my scale is still on loan.  But I want to check in and see where I'm sitting at.  So I'm going to use my sister's scale this weekend.  Riveting, I know.

*In the past 2 weeks I've come across two different diets that I want to research more: The 4 Hour Body and The 17 Day Diet.  Has anyone heard of either of these?  I'm still researching them to see if it's something that I want to do or may work for me.

*I need a new TV series to watch with Josh.  Any suggestions?  Comedy is good.  Dark or dramatic is not.

*All 3 of my kiddos need haircuts.  Badly.  They are total ragamuffins.

*This weekend we are cutting down two HUGE trees from our front yard.  Well, WE'RE not doing it.  Some friends of ours are, because they want the wood for firewood.  I'm really excited because it's going to open up our yard so much more, and one of the trees is dead anyway and looks really scraggly.

*We can not decide on a paint color for our bedroom.  And I just want it painted already!

*I love owning our own home so we can do whatever we want to it. 

*We could literally mow our lawn twice a week with all the rain we're getting.  The grass is growing like crazy! My strawberry plant, on the other hand, is not.  Every day we check for strawberries, but so far no luck.

*I love you guys. =)

*The End.

On the mend!

Phew!

I'm on the mend and feeling much, much better.  My stomach is still a little iffy/queasy but I have been able to keep food down for 2 days now.  Progress. =)

I even got myself a coffee today, and although I've only taken a few sips... it's still really good and hopefully won't turn my stomach.

I feel like I should be doing some type of intense workout to get ready for summer.  Some kind of diet or something.  But, I just can't.  I don't have the energy or willpower at this point.  Yes, I'd like to lose about 10 more pound (15 would be even better!!) but I don't know how realistic that is.

Josh and I happened upon the finale for the Biggest Loser last night and it is SO CRAZY how fast those people lose weight!!!  The winner lost 125 pounds in 5 months. WHAT?!?!?!?!  How is that even possible??? And she (and her sister) didn't even have loose skin.  I don't get it, I really don't.

Anyway, I'm feeling sort of stuck in a rut, but with no OOMPH to do anything about it.  Hmmmm.  Lazy, much? :-P

All in all I'm doing well and although I have an ongoing desire to lose weight, it's sort of taken a back seat for now. 

I hope everyone else is doing well and staying healthy and hopefully seeing some SUNSHINE!

Sick

Whoooo boy.  We've got some kind of bug and it's wreaking havoc in our house. 

We had a lovely vacation, which I'll recap later.

But for now I'm just trying to keep myself and my kiddos hydrated.  We're spending far too much time in the bathroom. =(  Cramping stomachs/intestines, headaches, body aches, chills, etc...

So I'm alive but I'm NOT well. :-P

Hope to be back soon.

SHEESH!

Man.  I feel like the most lazy person in the world.  Like a sloth.  Like a sloth with mono. 

I AM SO TIRED.

I was chatting with Jen today about how tired I am.  Maybe my iron is low or something?? But I feel like I don't have energy for anything other than taking care of my kids and house.  Those exercises I was going to squeeze into each day? Not happening.

I want it to happen.  I want to lose some more weight and tone up.  But I just can not seem to make myself do anything extra right now.

I haven't weighed in a few days.  Mostly because I've been eating salty potato chips and don't want to see the scale go up. ;-)  But I think I'm hanging out right around 140, give or take a pound or two up or down.  My jeans are fitting really loosely, so that's good. 

I don't have anything else to report really.  We're taking a little family vacation Wed-Fri of this week, so I'll not be posting during that time.  Don't worry, I haven't fallen off the wagon or anything. ;-)

I go through these phases where I feel like blogging and can come up with stuff to blog about, and then other times where I'm just MEH.  I don't feel like logging on and writing out all the mundane details of life.  You know?  I'm not gonna quit anytime soon, but right now it's a "down" time.  I'm not particularly inspired, haven't done anything weight-loss related that's noteworthy. 

But I'm here.  I'm around. =)

Game Plan

Today I was down a pound to 140.2; which is great! Cuz I did nothing to deserve it. ;-)

But I've been thinking; although it would be nice to lose 5 or 10 more pounds, I'm pretty happy with where I am, but definitely need to firm up.  So I'm going to try to do 50 push-ups (the girl kind, or the wall kind), 50 tricep dips and 50 squats a day.  Spread throughout the day, cuz I'm very out of shape and can't do them all at once.  Hopefully that will help tone my muscles a bit.  We'll see. 

That's my plan and I need to MAKE myself do it.  Otherwise I keep postponing it and then it's the end of the day and I've done... nothing.

My appetite is being weird again.  Nothing sounds good to me.  Especially protein.  But then I go all day eating maybe 1 piece of toast and am all shaky and weak, which is not good.  So I'm working on getting more protein in.  I had turkey sausage for breakfast, but to be perfectly honest... I had strawberry dessert for lunch.  It was really good, but um, not nutritious. ;-)  Still a work in progress, I guess.

The other thing that is wonky is my period.  For the last 3 months it's come a week earlier each month.  So, originally I'd start on the 28th.  Then I started on the 21st.  Then the 14th.  And this month I started on the 7th!  So strange!!! I haven't done anything to mess it up, so it's weird.  It's also really heavy (sorry for the TMI) but it makes me soooooooooooooo tired.  Like I was telling Jen today, it feels like I have sandbags tied to me, weighing me down.  I move in slow motion and in the morning can NOT wake up.  I'm wondering if my iron is low or something. 

Anyhoo, that's just a lot of randomness from me on this Friday. ;-) 

I hope you have a splendid weekend!!!

Ding Dong Ruth Anne is Dumb

Last night I couldn't fall asleep.  I laid there awake for hours.  I twitched. I tossed. I turned.  And then it hit me.

Josh wasn't home.  The nights I don't sleep well are the nights that he is gone.

Can I get a "DUH!!!!!!"

Ha, ha!  When I think back it totally correlates to the nights when sleep eludes me.  Granted, there have been a few times that even when he is in bed next to me that I can't fall asleep.  But generally, if he's there, I sleep well.

So.  Now we just have to wait until he doesn't have to go out of town anymore and then I'll be sleeping like a baby! :-D

As I laid there last night I was all, "Hmmm. The Skinny Turtle has really stopped being about weight loss.  Mostly I jut ramble about my life.  I wonder if people find that interesting?"

So, do you?

Or are you all, BOOOOOORRRRIINNNGGG! ?

You can be honest. =)

Settling Down

Phew!

I think I'm done with most of my medical appointments, besides my ongoing physical therapy.  I actually only went to therapy 3 times because we found out all of it was being applied to our deductible and we weren't sure if we could swing it, financially.  But we talked about it and decided it's something that needs to be done, so now I'm scheduled to start up again.

I'm happy to be done with all that running around! We're using my brother-in-law's Tahoe right now and it's costing us about $80 a week to drive it.  :-O

Anyway, not much else to report.  My sister brought her scale over so I weighed myself this morning and I weighed 141.2 which is good.  I had been up to 147 at one point, so I'm glad it came back off.  When I was at the ENT on Monday I weighed 145 in the middle of the day with my clothes on, so I think I weigh a little less than 141; but we celebrated Christian's birthday yesterday and I had a LOT of strawberry dessert.  ;-)  I also had 2 doughnuts.  Oops.

I'm really super tired today, so I'm going to go nap with my kiddos. Ahhhh, the joys of being a stay at home mom. :-D

I'm weird... but you already knew that ;-)

SO, I saw the ENT yesterday and turns out I'm weird. hee hee! 

I have some cysts in my sinuses and the lining is much thicker than normal. BUT it isn't inhibiting my breathing, or causing infections or causing me pain.  He also doesn't think that would be the cause of my headaches.  So no surgery.

I also have some weird mastoid stuff (something to do with my ears) going on; it looks like they were damaged when I was younger from ear infections.  I only remember having one infection, but it was a doozy and while we were on a road trip from Texas to California and we couldn't get antibiotics.  I have some hearing loss in my left ear; it's on the very lowest side of "normal".  But again, no surgery as it wouldn't be the cause of my headaches.

So basically I'm sorta back to square one, as far as figuring out the cause of the migraines.  I tend to believe they really were exacerbated by stress and lack of sleep because just being on Zoloft has decreased the number of headaches I've had.  The ENT doctor also said a lot of antidepressants/anti-anxiety drugs actually have the side effect of preventing migraines.

I'm still staying away from the other med I was prescribed, for helping me sleep and preventing migraines. I seem to be doing okay without it and don't want to be so incredibly drugged.  I know I could cut it down, but if I don't NEED it then I don't want it in my system.

Other than that, I'm doing really well! Today is Christian's birthday.  He is FIVE!!!!  He is so cute and has been so excited all day. He got a new "racing bike" and has been speeding around on it all morning.  We're having a party tonight and he can't wait. =)

I hope you're all well and healthy!

ENT Consult

I have an appointment with the ENT surgeon today to see if he thinks I need surgery or not.  My doctor said he may want to prescribe another round of stronger antibiotics to see if that will clear up the fluid behind my ear and the thickening in my sinus cavities.  We'll see what he has to say.

All these appointments are EXPENSIVE.  EEEKKKKK!  We have a $1,000 deductible, so we've been paying out of pocket for the MRI, CT Scan, MD visits, therapist visits and physical therapy.  Wow, it is expensive.  But worth it, to be healthy.  We'll just be eating lots of beans and rice in the next few weeks. ;-)

I'm feeling well; I only took the medicine that was supposed to prevent migraines once because it knocked me out.  I was so sleepy for 24 hours afterward that I didn't even want to chance it by cutting it in half.  I'm going to talk to my doc to see if there is something else, or if we should just wait for now.  I got a really bad headache yesterday that made me throw up, but that's the first  one I've had in a long while since starting the Zoloft.  And it came after a busy weekend, so there you go.

I'm also feeling much less "drugged" and "numb" from the Zoloft and my appetite is returning more to normal.  Overall I'm very happy with how it's working for me.

Not much else going on around here.  I had a lovely Mother's Day, we celebrated Josh's birthday on Saturday and Christian's birthday is tomorrow.  Lots going on!  But I don't feel overwhelmed, so that's good. 

Have a good day!

Pip Pip Hooray!

My youngest son, Owen, says Pip Pip Hooray! instead of Hip Hip Hooray!  It's cute. ;-)

I'm excited it's Friday.  I haven't seen Josh since Tuesday and I can't wait to see him tonight when he gets home.

I got the results from my CT scan back, and there is thickening in the lining of my sinuses; the ones under my eyes by my cheeks.  I also have fluid behind my left ear.  So I'm being sent to the ENT surgeon for a consult on Monday.  Wheeee! Not. Yeah, I'm 32 and I just said Not.  Deal with it. =)

I feel a little overwhelmed at all the appointments I've been to and all the new medicine I'm on.  My doc finally prescribed me the pill that prevents migraines and helps me sleep.  Boy howdy!  I took it last night at 8pm and still feel drugged right now.  I think I will be cutting those babies in half from now on, or else taking them earlier.  That's what she suggested I try.  Cuz it's not fun trying to function in this thick fog!

In actuality I'm only on 2 prescription drugs, the Zoloft and the sleeping stuff, but it still feels like a lot.  It's chemicals, and drugs, you know? The Zoloft is staying, because it's made a clear and distinct difference for me, but I'm going to see if I can maybe not take the other one.  I have had significantly fewer headaches since I started the Zoloft.  I'm thinking that maybe since I'm less stressed the headaches are coming less often??  I don't know, we'll see.  It's not something you can start and stop willy nilly.

I seem to jinx myself on this blog. :-P  For example, after I wrote that I could get my rings off in the morning and at night, the next two mornings I couldn't get them off!  Then I said everything was hunky dory and life was great... and then yesterday happened.  Total chaos and stress all day long.  Oopsie.

But overall, in the whole scheme of things, everything is much greatly improved.  My kiddos are finally getting better.  Christian was the last one and it seems like he is much better today.  He is eating and not as lethargic and has been really fighting with the other kiddos.  And that's exactly what happened once the others started feeling better.  They got the energy to bicker again. ;-)

I plan to take it easy today, but not let the house fall apart.  Luckily I'm caught up on my laundry, just have one load to fold.  My kitchen is also pretty clean; just need to empty the dishwasher and reload the breakfast dishes.  Tonight I'm making pizza for dinner, but I'm gonna let my bread machine make the dough. =)

So all in all things are still going really well.  I'm very thankful!!!

I hope you have had a good week and I hope you all have a very nice weekend!

C is for CT Scan

I had my CT scan this morning; it was so fast! I was in and out in less than 5 minutes literally.  The drive there and the wait was what took so long. ;-) 

The doctor should be calling back with the results and whether or not I have some blockage in my sinuses.  Since she told me about it I have noticed that I do have pressure there, but I think there was too much going on for me to really notice it and single it out.  Since I've been feeling better and more calm, I notice that the pressure is actually there most of the time.  So we'll see.

The only other thing that isn't peachy keen ;-) is my inability to fall asleep. SOOOOOO Frustrating!  It takes me 2-3 hours every single night to fall asleep, even if I don't consume any caffeine at all during the day.  And I tried taking Tyelnol PM twice and it did absolutely nothing. Nada. Zilch.  It still took me over two hours before I finally fell asleep.

I'm hoping that once the doc sees my CT scan and calls me back with what to do next that we can discuss it.  She originally was going to prescribe me migraine prevention medicine, which also was a sleep aid.  But now that my migraines may be due to blocked sinuses and not just stress/insomnia I don't know if that changes anything.

Other than that, I'm really good.  The Zoloft is really working wonders.  Life is so enjoyable now, and I treasure and cherish each of my children, instead of just feeling like they are burdens/extra work.  Don't get me wrong, they still have their attitudes and temper tantrums and opinions, but it's like I can see past that to the individuals they are and they are so special!  I'm so thankful for them.  And my husband? A gem.  For real.  I love him so much and things are looking really good with the job switch so he won't have to travel every week.  And to top it all off the SUN has been shining!!!!!

 

I hope you all are doing well!!

How longer pants equals weight loss

Good day, folks!

I'm super excited today.  Josh has a meeting with the owner of the company he works for and they are *hopefully* cutting a deal where he won't have to travel out of state for work every week!!!!!!  I can not even begin to tell you how happy and excited this makes me. Just picture me with a permagrin.

In other news, my pants are getting longer. ;-) I think it's because I'm losing a little weight, so my pants fit lower on my hips.  I don't have my scale back, so I don't know if I've lost some pounds or inches.  But it feels nice to not have to stuff myself into my jeans. ;-)

I also can easily slip my rings on and off my finger, even first thing in the morning and late at night.  Before, my fingers would swell at those times so I couldn't get them off.  But now, it's no problem.  Another indicator that I think I may have lost a bit of weight. 

I really like using means other than the scale to gauge my weight loss.  Because, if I stepped on the scale and it said I was down just one pound, I'd be like, "Aw man. That's a bummer."  But since I don't know the actual number, and I just see the changes in other ways, it feels like it could be a significant amount of weight.  I think I'm probably back down to 140ish or so.  I had been up as high as 146. 

Anywho, that's how longer pants equals weight loss in my book. ;-)

I'm doing well otherwise.  The Sickness continues in our house, but we are on the mend.  Only sweet Christian is still struggling to get over it. 

I had an appointment with my therapist yesterday and she was very pleased with how the Zoloft is working.  I also haven't been as nauseated since I stopped taking the penicillin, which I'm very thankful for.

I have lots of housework to do, including washing all the bedding to hopefully get rid of any lingering sick germs.  So I'm off to do that. Hooray. ;-)

Hope you have a good day!

The Sick House

Hello All,

I am back from Arizona, but came home to a house full of sick kiddos.  We've caught some sort of bug that makes us throw up and have diarrhea and fevers.  It's not been pleasant, but the kids have been super duper cuddly and mellow. ;-)

I had a good trip to AZ, although it was very quick.  I was only there less than 24 hours actually.  But I did get to sit in the sunshine for half an hour, and that was heavenly.  Dr. Ray was quite pleased with my hormones and chemicals.  They weren't too far off, which is great progress!  He also gave me something to help with this extreme fatigue I've been experiencing.  I took it yesterday and it did seem to help.  Not sure what it is exactly, but it's not ephedra or anything like that.

I haven't caught The Bug myself, but have definitely been under the weather.  Not eating much, feeling a little nauseated, no energy.  I am finally done with the penicillin so I'm hoping that most of those symptoms will go away now. 

Despite the kiddos being sick I had a really great weekend.  Because of the all the illness we were forced to slow down and just hang out around the house as a family, and it was nothing short of wonderful.  We all sat on the couch together, watching movies.  Occasionally someone would throw up, but they got quite good at just keeping a bowl near them so clean up was easy. ;-)

Yesterday it was really beautiful weather and the kids seemed to be feeling better so we went to the park for a bit and then came home and worked in the yard.  Well, ok, Josh worked in the yard while I sat in the sun and the kids went in the sprinkler.  But we overdid it and the kids sort of relapsed into wet noodles.  It was so nice to see the sun, though! I sat out in it all afternoon, and being the really smart gal I am, did not put on sunblock. So now I'm sunburned; but only on one side of my face, because I was sitting sideways to the sun. Fabulous.

All in all it was a lovely weekend, despite the sickness.  The kids are still moving really slow today and aren't quite 100%. I'm not complaining.  I've really enjoyed cuddling with them and having these really slow, lazy days. 

I see my therapist today to report back on how the Zoloft is working. I think it's working well, but I want to see how I do in the next few weeks to figure out if my nausea, lack of appetite, etc... was from the Zoloft or penicillin. 

All in all I'm doing well and feeling much better.  I am enjoying my life, despite it's imperfections.  I feel happy and content, not anxious or frazzled.  I have so much to be thankful for.

I'll leave you with the one picture I took while in AZ. ;-)