Weight Loss or Not

Have had a week hovering at a 101 lb loss, I am pleased with my progress and don't mind hovering. I had the first mention today of losing too much, yet I am 60 lbs over my college and young bride weight. hmm. what's that about? The people who know me now in my present life have never seen me at a normal weight. I am not at a normal weight yet, but I sure am looking a heck of a lot better than I did a year ago!
Dh repaired my bicycle which had the front fork of backwards for 3 years as put together by ultra excellent bike shop. It really improves the ride! The little hills that had become challenges to me since the weight loss strangely smoothed over and got lower! My feet are no longer hit by my front tire when I turn the bike. Hard to imagine not noticing that little problem for so long! I just blamed those issues on my own body, feet, losing some strength along with weight...and it was BACKWARDS!

Last week I thought I may have lost my mind in offering my afternoon 6th graders the Oaxacan animal project. I was wrong, once we got through the horrid first day where each and every one of them was clamoring for help...I can't..I can't...I can't ringing through the air, it has been more than fine, so much better than they have been since the beginning of school. I feel like I have literally yelled at this one class 5 times in 43 minutes.(Each day) I don't much care for it when that happens, and I really don't care for raising my voice.

Because I have learned the simple task of putting pics on my blog, Thanks, daughter, I will be able to put up some photos here when the animals are finished. This project gives my kids a sculptural experience, a social studies experience, and just a lot of down right fun. I learned some techniques 3 or 4 years ago from Dan Reeder's book "Simple Screamers" that have made this project one that lasts. Little siblings say my brother still have his..maybe 4 years after making it. A child can even play with them they are so sturdy. We make the lat layer a wrap (like a mummy) of elmer's glue and strips of cotton ripped from sheets that makes them amazingly strong, and paint them with acrylics.

some editing

Rockets Red Glare

weekend pictures

newest grandson

Bag and Chameleon

This bag I knitted and felted and the chameleon is a paint pen painting I did for my grandson and I am just having a blast doing this right now! Hey little brother look what I am doing!

Me Trying Pictures

I am learning how to post photos...finally

Grand Boys of Illinois

Mom's Journal

Mom left a few pages on a tiny yellow pad, my youngest sister just gave it to me.
I am going to quote this from it as it pertains to me......"I am so proud of the good job Linda and Larry are doing with their girls....I am picking up my grandchildren today from practice. (band)Those 2 girls are something special. I love being with them. They are smart, pretty and not all mixed up like so many kids I know. I don't think they keep many secrets from the parents. It looks like rain, I do hate to drive in rain."... Thanks Mom, I loved reading this.

Knee Pain Weight Loss

Tomorrow I will be 7 months out from my gastric bypass surgery. So far no complications and I am down 97 lbs. I am looking forward to the psychological goal of 100lbs. Early this morning I woke up(4a.m.) and straightened my left knee. In the past this has been a very painful and slow process. I realized I was doing this with NO pain at all. I don't know how long this has been going on, but I just noticed it. I stopped taking arthritis meds at least a month before the first cancelled surgery and have never taken it since, so I have been off of it for nearly a year. I did not restart it because I was afraid of what it would do to the new pocket stomach. Ulcers can be deadly for post-bariatrics so I do nothing that can cause it, not even baby aspirin. I was so happy this morning I kept bending and straightening my knee and going "yeah it doesn't hurt."

Stop Me Before I Shop Again

I have always hated shopping for me. When I was tall and thin, there were almost no tall clothes. I sewed for myself from the ages of about 13 to 40 when suddenly there were some ready mades for me, with buttons and zippers. I have hauled 2 over 40 gallon bags of things to the goodwill and that doesn't count the things that are nice enough for resale or consignment. I haven't bought myself anything that wasn't on a deep discount the past month, BUT I keep on buying. I can shop almost anywhere for me now. They have been making really long things for several years and now that I can put my hands on some items, more than one or two in a fat store that I can wear. I buy them. Things I bought a month ago are sliding off. I think I will have to get out the machine and do a little remodeling so it isn't just throwing money away. I also bought what I needed to make my newest grandbaby a colorful cozy baby quilt.....and more yarn. cotton yarn.

Weight Loss

94lbs down. Just got back from routine bloodwork keeping track of cholesterol, sugar and iron. Opening of school has messed with my exercise schedule, I must work out a new schedule and stick to it. I attended a bariatric support group meeting with my friend Diana last Monday and the subject was tips for beginners. It is amazing what you did in those early days and weeks that just slip out of your head. I don't think I even had a tip to share. I am now in the smallest jeans I have worn in 30 years, and am still losing weight. I may get closer to a goal I thought was impossible and even undesirable for someone of my age and parity. I am just taking it a day at a time and finding it rather exciting. The physical abilities that reveal themselves to me gradually, oh I couldn't do that last year, oh, I haven't done that for 3 years, oh, I didn't think that was possible. Just little sneaky things that crept away, even sitting here typing with right leg crossed over left, thoughtlessly, right foot touching the floor. I caught myself tying my left shoe with my foot up where I couldn't get it before, had to tie that one flat on the floor for the last several year. The flexibility in my hips seems to have returned.

I need to apologize to my brother if this rambles, and my blogging is definitely hurt by my twittering. When I cast about for a topic, I just think I already covered it in 140 characters! I will try to do better. Goodness, either I don't have any spelling errors or spellcheck isn't working!