Weight

I weighed yesterday morning and I now weigh 152 pounds!!! YAY ME:)

Stress...

Sometimes I think I just do it to myself. I feel like I have so many things going on that it is wearing me out, keeping me on edge, making me forget things, feeling rushed all the time, yada yada yada. Really though, why stess so much about it all?

Stress sucks and is really not fun at all.

First thing I notice that is in my ability to change is to manage my time better. The kids go back to school next week and I am committed to not working after 3:00pm when they get out of school. Instead of getting distracted all during the day when I am working and then dragging my work out.

My house is a mess and I need another organized solution for that!!!

How Have I Felt While Taking Adipex?

First of all, I have not been hungry at all!! I do make myself eat though...just not healthy to not eat. So, here is what I am feeling since having started taking Adipex:

Dry mouth
Increased thirst and I mean increased
headaches the first 3 days
no hunger pains
get full really, really fast
slight nervousness
slightly increased energy

I will add more if I think of something else. So far, I am majorly satisfied with Adipex. The few side effects that I don't care for are more than worth it!

Adipex Weigh In Week 1

Today, Thursday, August 14 makes one week that I have been taking Adipex.

I weighed at home the morning that I went to "Weigh Know More" and the scale said 163lbs.

This morning I weighed and the scaled said 154!!! Nine pound loss. I must say, so far I am very pleased with my results. We will see what next week holds.

ROCK & REBELS TOUR

New Orleans, LANew Orleans Arena
“Rock And Rebels Tour” with Lynyrd Skynyrd

8/8/08

Wish you could go to Shelli!

Adipex

Well, I went to the weight loss clinic meeting that I told you about and started taking Adipex and a multi vitamin yesterday morning. I took half a pill 30 min after breakfast and another half after lunch. I have to say not once was I hungry. I had to make myself eat my lunch. Now, don't get me wrong -I believe it is vey unhealthy to not eat and I will still make sure I eat a balanced diet and try some of the recipes that the clinic gave me. I will go back in one month to weigh in and get a refill at that time. So far, I am pleased with the results for the first day!

I am leaving in just a little bit for New Orleans!!! YAY!!! The last time Kenny and I went to New Orleans was a couple of years before Katrina hit. I really love the city. Yes, there are some dirty crummy areas as there is with any major city, but there are alot of areas that are so beautiful! I love going to the St Louis Cathedral and sitting inside for a few minutes in aw of its beauty. The Garden District has many beautiful homes and the trolley running through it is so neat. And I love going to the Market at the end of the French Quarter. Then there is Bourbon St. Yes, Bourbon. Lots of happenings there!! Kenny and I get a real kick out of just watching the people. Very different on that street.....not the life I would want to live all the time, but alot of fun for a visit.

And the main reason for going to New Orleans???? Yep, the Kid Rock/Lynyrd Skynrd concert! As you all know Kenny and I are an avid fan of Kid. This will be our second concert this year (but a completely different show than the one we saw in March). I will be sure to let you know how this goes....and give you the details.

Food in New Orleans....
Lots of food in New Orleans...
Lots of Cajun food in New Orleans....
Lots to drink in New Orleans....

So where does that leave me???

Well, we will just see how effective Adipex is in New Orleans!!! I do plan to treat myself to some good Cajun food and Beignet's while I am there. And although I do not drink much at all -I will find my way into the frozen drink places for margarita's or hurricane's. Lots of calories and I don't want to gain while I am there. SO, hopefully I can just hold my own and have a good time.

As Kid Rock would say, I am bout to ROLL ON.......

Weight Know More

Weight Know More is the name of a local weight loss clinic in a Shreveport, LA about 40 mins from my home. I have been thinking about this program for a very long time. I think it has it's pros and cons. This clinic does offer weight loss suppressants and as I feel I have been in a rut for quite a while I feel I need some assistance and do not want to go back to Alli.

I have an appointment today at 4pm. So, I am off to see what I think and plan to see the doctor and start the program. The only way to know -is to try.

I will post later what happens at the appointment. Wish me luck....see ya!

Did He Really Just Say That??

Before reading this post hop over to Shelli's and read her post from yesterday "To Pee or Not To Pee". When I read this it was cracking me up and had me rolling on the floor. After reading the comments on Shelli's post I decided that I would take the chance to get to know my family a little better and went around the room asking my husband and kids (except Kate who is still out of town) Shelli's question.

When I get to my 10 yr old son Hunter, I just can't believe what I hear. Did he really just say that? Really? He did? It goes something like this:

Me: Hunter, do you pee in the shower?

Hunter: Yes

Me: Hunter, do you blow your nose in the shower?

Hunter: Well, I said I pee in the shower and I wanted to tell you I pee in the bathtub too!

Me: WHAT????????

Hunter: Yep, I pee in the bathtub while I am taking my bath.

(There it was out in the open for all of us to hear.)

Me: Hunter, you have got to be joking me...

Hunter: Nope, I pee right in there....why not?

Me: Good Lord, this boy thing is a losing battle.

Yep, pretty gross, huh. And he is still claiming he is telling the truth. Go figure...

A Freindly Reminder To Us All

A little reminder to ask yourself if you have done these lately....

Yearly gyno check-up
Yearly teeth cleaning
Eye exam
Yearly Physical

Hugged your kids, hubby, mom, or dad, etc
Told someone that they have added some sort of value to your life
Thanked someone for the little things they do for you
Told someone you thought of them today for no reason at all
When was the last time you performed a random act of kindness

Just a few things I was thinking of and wondering about. It is so hard to fit everything into our hectic lives and to slow down and think of all the things we needs and have to take care of. Much less fitting in the hugs and kindness that we all need.

Speaking of which....hugs to all of you that I have met along the way over the past year here in the blogger world and thanks for not giving up on me! I appreciate your friendships and want to try to grow them even more:)

YAY me!!!

I have actually done pretty good the past few days at posting!!! Look at me go:)

Food intake was pretty good today. I had the following:
1 cup of coffee with artificial sweetener and little creamer
Very large cup of water with lemon
Large unsweet tea with splenda
Chicken salad from McDonalds
Salami stick (2 small snack size from vending machine)
Diet Coke
Chicken salad from Burger King

Not so shabby......but can you tell I STILL NEED TO GO GROCERY SHOPPING!!

I have a dr appt tomorrow with the ENT. We will see how that goes. I started out this morning with a small amount of energy and then I have felt so exhausted since then. Hunter had football practice and we left there at 8pm. At that point I felt like my legs were jello.

So, I promised to think a decent post for today and I am just not so sure that this one would qualify. Instead I have decided to post a few little reminders for all of us in another post.

Have a good nights sleep!!!

Brittany Officially Has Her License!

The big day has come and gone. I took Brittany to get her driver's license before I left on vacation. I am excited for her and will not cry in this post about it right now. I will save that for another time. When school starts, she will be a Senior and I will have plenty to say about all of this then too!

This is Brittany driving off from our house down the road on her own.....

And It was a MONDAY!

Once again, after returning to work from a weeks vacation, I decided it is just not worth it! RRRRRRRRRRRRR. Trying to play catch up and then having issues come up and never getting started on my work that starts over at the beginning of the month is very aggervating. So, I finally leave work at 5:25pm -mind you I really work from home and spent the whole day there today and will spend the whole day there again tomorrow. I don't mind, but it seemed like I could not get it all done!

Then to top it off, I don't know what was going on but it freakin smelt like nasty fish or poop in the building!!!! What the crap??!?!?!?!? And the air was very funky and humid. Even my papers were all limp or something. Whatever....I made it through the day anyway.

I went to lunch with a coworker and the food was really good.

Made it home just in time to pick Kenny and Hunter up for his first football practice until about 7:45. We had supper from Burger King. I have got to get to the grocery store and really don't want to much less have time to!

I ate pretty good today until I got home this evening and ate popcorn. There went my carbs straight down the drain. I have not been feeling real great and when that happens I tend to be so tired that I lose focus on what I am eating.

Kenny and I went to the casino boats and to eat yesterday. We had a really good time and then when we were eating I got this horrible and I do mean horrible headache. I have not been able to completely shape it. I was also very off balance. I am wondering about the ear infection and bell's palsy.....I called the ENT and made an appt for Wed morning.

Now, I am telling you right here and now if this flippin ear and bell's palsy starts acting up before I go to Kid Rock in New Orleans I am going to be soooooooo upset. It WILL NOT stop me from going though!!! I can't wait:)

Have a good rest of the week and I will try to think of a decent post topic instead of boring you to death with my life.

I Didn't Even Tell You...

That I was leaving on vacation! Sorry!! We left last Sunday and went to Galveston, TX. We had a really good time and came back on Friday.

Last night we went shopping for a new mattress for our bed. Geez, the prices will make you cringe. We finally decided on what we wanted loaded it up, brought it home, set it up, and walaaa! We had a wonderful nights sleep for the first time in I don't know how long. It is really high compared to the old mattress and my Yorkie Miss Rosie keeps trying to jump up there but just can't seem to make it. She bangs her head straight into the side of the mattress!

After we got the mattress last night we stopped by a few car dealerships looking at cars. This is another one of those ugly price tags. Anyway, we are looking but probably won't do anything for a couple of months. I want to take my time and see exactly what we want.

Katelyn just left with a friend on a short vacation to Broken Bow, OK.
Hunter's football practice starts next week.
Brittany has band and drama practice all day every day next week.

Me and Kenny, well we get to work. BUT, come Friday morning we are out of here! We are going to see Kid Rock in New Orleans, LA. Yep, we just saw him here in concert back in March and going again! YAY:) this concert will be different though, it is his tour with Lynrd Skynrd. This will be our first trip to New Orleans since Katrina. We are staying in a hotel on Bourbon St in the French Quarter. I will let you know how it goes. I am so excited:)

On the dieting weight loss subject, well, I have gained a few pounds. For one thing I need to go to the stinking store! And while I was on vacation I was on track, off track, on track, off track! I am not unhappy about where I am at right now, but I really do want to lose that other 20-30 pounds. Tomorrow is a new day and a day to get on track. Maybe I can lose a pound before we go to New Orleans!

Have a great week! ~Laura

A Hot Day In...

East Texas. I am really starting to look forward to fall!

Not a whole lot going on around here. Except I just ate some freaking potato chips! Well, I will be better for the rest of the day and the scale still reads the same. No gain and no loss. I have been eating some ice cream and I need to go to the store to look for low carb ice cream -low sugar or whatever cause it is to HOT to not have ice cream!

Katelyn has a softball tournament this weekend in a town about 20 minutes from our house. Atleast I will not have to shell out much money for gas. This is the same town that she practices in and I work in. This is a midnight madness tournament so we will play at 8:30pm, 10:30pm and 1:45am. The girls are excited and the parents are hoping they can stay awake!

Brittany left today on summer trip with the band to San Antonio, TX.

Hunter is here just hanging out and going with us to the tournament.

Not much else going on. Got alot of work - work done this week. Need to run and pick up my contacts after I take a shower. Hope you have a good weekend!

Big Brother 10...WOOHOOOO!

Big Brother 10 premiers tonight! This is the all time fave reality show here at my house. This season's cast is suppose to be 13 actual strangers -back to the roots of the show.

The contestants -- who will include a gay bull rider, a Hooters waitress, a professional bodybuilder and a 75-year-old former Marine -- will spend the summer competing in challenges, evicting each other, and being monitored by more than 50 cameras. It's the first time since the show's third season the houseguests are all strangers.

The Big Brother 10 gameplay twist is supposed to be introduced during the premiere episode tonight!

A Few Things...

Pink has been my favorite color since I can remember...

I live in Texas, on the state line of Louisiana. This is a picture of the Texas sign when entering my town.

My favoriet dog breed is the Yorkie. But I love all my pups:)

Well, these I not my flowers or my house. I love the cottage look and the cottage woodsy gardening.

Gotta luv a bug!!! This is not my car but isn't she a beauty? VW bug's are my absolute favorite car. I have a 1972 and my daughter has a 1975. Don't they just make you smile....and what fun to drive!

Well, I am off to do some laundry and house cleaning....yuck. Have a nice Sunday:)

A Visit To The ENT

I went to see my ENT on Friday. I am taking antibiotics for 2 weeks for my ear and a cortizone pack (yuck -here we go with the weight gain now) for the Bell's Palsy. Wish me luck.

We had a garage sale today and did ok. We had alot of stuff left and will have another one next Saturday in another location we think may be better.

Made a trip to Goodwill and found a few good buys.

Went to ole faithful Wal Mart because Katleyn has not been feeling that great so we needed something for her headache, sore throat thing and that sort of stuff.

Not much else going on around here. Chicken and salad for supper....but I blew breakfast by eating honey buns!

Have a good weekend:)

What Can A Click A Day Do?

This is pretty simple... Please tell ten friends to tell ten more today!

The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily to meet their quota of getting free food donated every day to abused and neglected animals. It takes less than a minute (How about 20 seconds) to go to their site and click on the purple box "fund food for animals" for free.

This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising. It's also a great place to shop... and that donates even more food to the animals!

Here's the web site! Please pass it along to people you know. Thanks!!!!! http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com

Recent Finds...

I found this pink cookbook at Goodwill for $1.99 and none of the pages had been written on. It says "SWEETS" on the front cover.

During our family reunion we made a trip to Jefferson, TX and I found this wonderful mirror. I have been looking for one like this and paid only $12.99 for it. It is hung in my hallway bathroom. Sorry about the reflection of other things in it. Hope you can see the cute little white flowers etched on the mirror in the top right hand corner and the bottom left hand corner.
Katelyn and I went shopping at Goodwill last weekend and found this Planters Peanut jar for $.99 and now I just need to fill it with some peanuts. It is sitting on the back of my stove.
Found this cute little jar at Goodwill to for only $.99 and it is also on the back of my stove!
Found this jar at a garage sale a couple of monthes ago. It now holds my tea bags and sits on the back of my stove.
During the trip to Jefferson, TX this sweet baby was another one of my finds! The cutest ever cupcake cookie jar. Right now this cupcake is sitting in the middle of my kitchen table.


This is a night light that I found at the Everythings A Dollar Store in Shreveport, LA. I love glass door knobs and this lighting up our kitchen at night.

My Blog

China Tea Cup from Kenny's Grandma Garcia

I originally started this blog to find support and help myself to lose weight. That was in June, 2007. I blogged faithfully for monthes and purposely did not share any of my health issues. Being so frustrated with the ins and outs, ups and downs of my health...this was a place I could act as if it was not an issue for me.

After being really sick in December, 2007 I found myself blogging less and less. Not wanting to whine and people think that they did not want to come to my blog to hear of my health struggles. I then made a small attempt to blog about my health, but once again I felt like there is no way people would want to read about my crappy complaining about not feeling well -most of the time. That is how I am in my real life---other than my family I really do not share much about my health unless specifically asked.

Well, on to a new day. This blog will now reflect my weight loss journey and my health journey with Psoriatic Arthritis, Psoriasis, Osteoarthritis in knee, and Fibromyalgia. Be prepared to hear the moaning, groaning, and complaining along with my being excited about the good days.

You will also be sure to hear more about my dogs and breeding. I love my babies and I am guaranteed to tell you more!

Also, I will be sharing more of my life and my joy to collect antiques, vintage items, and attempts to change my house decor to more of a cottage shabby chic setting. Oh and the cutest little cupcakes ever!

So, if all of this still sounds good to you.....get yourself a cute little china teacup and read on:)

Cupcake Layout!

Hoping you enjoy the new cupcake layout! No, it does not fall under the "Losin' It" category, but I think cupcakes are so darn CUTE! I am changing the decor in my kitchen to cupcakes, pinks and off whites. And of course then displaying my collection of plates, saucers, china cups, platters, etc.....

Some Pics

This is "Darla".... one of Miss Rosie's surprise puppies she had in Sept '07.

My Yorkie "Miss Rosie".

Hunter playing with Rosie's puppies.

Brittany on the red carpet after her performance as "Hattie" in the one act play:

"Unexpected Tenderness".

Me getting my nose pierced...

Brittany driving her 1975 VW Bug!

This is Katelyn at a softball tournament in Henderson, TX

My Summer So Far...

Not alot going on this summer so far. The first week of June we had our family reunion here at my mom's house. Had a great visit with our family....just as usual very sad to see them go back home.

Brittany is not working at Dairy Queen. She is now working at a restaurant that a friend of our owns in a near by town as a waitress. She has been driving her VW bug and enjoying that. She just got back from vacation with her boyfriend and his family in Galveston, TX. They went deep sea fishing. Brittany caught a 60lb shark and her boyfriend Crews caught a 40lb shark!!! EWWWW They grilled the shark and froze some to bring back to us. We have not cooked it yet, but plan to really soon.

Katleyn has been playing and practicing softball. Kenny (my husband) and another dad took over coaching the team. We are having 2 practices a week for 3 hours. She has been hanging out with friends and sleeping alot of course!

Hunter has been hanging out at the house alot instead of going outside. It has been extremely hot here and he is not just real eager about going outside to play. He is eagerly waiting for football to start practice in August.

Kenny has been working alot. He changed jobs in March and has been getting overtime that he actually gets paid for!!! At his other job he was salary and you know what that means -or ateast did there.

We are going on vacation the last week of July to Galveston, TX. Kenny will not be able to go since his vacation time has not rolled around yet since changing jobs. I am ready for a small vacation. Galveston is about 4hrs from our home so that won't mean to much in the gas category!

Sold all of the puppies except for the chocolate one we named Penny. I gave her to my mom. I then bought another female. She is a Silky Terrier and we named her Lexie. She is a sweetie.

We cannot seem to keep up with our yard this year no matter what! The grass grows back as soon as you finish......uuuugh.

I have been low carbing and I am at 156lbs. While I am happy with that, I wonder will I ever see by ultimate goal weight of 130lbs??? Oh well, I will just keep bumping along.

I am still taking my Enbrel and working with the reactions that I have been having which are:
tiredness
throat tightness
swelling or tight feeling in my hands and face

I can say my joint pain is better and my psoriasis is so so much better.

Hope all is well with you,
Laura

A Good Saturday

Well, I really did not do to much on Saturday but it was a good day! Mom and I went shopping and I found the girls a matching outfit (which they love for me to do at this age-no, not really). I want to take photos of the kids and wanted somewhat similar clothes. I still have to find something for Hunter. I plan to take some photos myself and may take them later to have some made with a photographer that we know. He takes really great shots.

I purchased some paint to start painting my kitchen and kitchen cabinets. One color is not quite right so I am going to have to take it to let them work with it a little to get it right.

We are going to my sister-n-law's house today for a cookout and swimming. She has a new in ground swimming pool and we have not seen it yet. I may call and take my nephews with us....

We had Katelyn's family bday Friday night and a few friends. We had a good time. She turned 14. Sad. That's all I am going to say about that is it really makes me sad to see her growing up so fast. Her 8th grade graduation is June 5 and then she will be off to high school when school starts back.

I did good with my eating yesterday. I have had some problems with my sugar levels and the dr has been on me to start eating no more than 40 carbs per day to keep it under control. So, I know it will help me feel better but I am so tired that I feel like I do not even have the energy to think about food. Yesterday was good though and I drank my water and tea. I did not really count my carbs. I just started being concious and reading labels again. I did some shopping so that I could have some carb wise foods in the house.

Oh, and another thing I don't want to mention but know I have to in order to get things going is that I weighed in yesterday at 167:(

Have a nice and safe Memorial Day!

My Yorkie Puppies!

Here are a few pictures of my Yorkie puppies. I have been advertising them for sale and they will be ready for their new homes after May 31st. They are the cutest little pups especially when they run!!!