Catching up

Let me start by saying that it is a beautiful day! I have windows all around my cube at work and all I want to do today is lay in my bed with a good book with all of my windows open.  I could use a nap, too.  No such luck, sadly.  Today is my busy day.  I have work all day then 4 hours of class tonight. 
We had a really nice weekend.  Friday I had lunch with my Aunt Jill.  I always love catching up with her.  She's so much fun to talk to!  Friday evening I had some bonding time with Chris' girlfriend Ashley.  Then Nick and I went to a movie and dinner.  We saw Rise of the Planet of the Apes.  It was really good.  Saturday morning we went to Matthew's first football game.  Matt is coaching him this year and it was fun to watch them.  Saturday afternoon, John, Kathy, Nick and I went to the State Fair.  It was wonderful until right at the end.  We were just about to head out about 8:45 pm and a huge storm brewed up out of no where.  There were very strong wind gusts.  We raced to the car as fast as we could go and as we were heading out, a bunch of emergency personnel were running in.  We thought something may have happened at the midway due to the wind.  We found out later the main stage had collaped.  It was awful.  5 deaths and several injuries.  My prayers go out to the families of those effected. 
Sunday I did homework literally all day long.  Tonight I start a communications class and it's no joke so far.  I am a little nervous about this class, so I am anxious to see how tonight goes.  It's a lot of reading and writing.  Quite a bit different from my personal finance class.
On a fun note, I lost 3.4 lbs last week!! I am 3.8 lbs from onederland!!  I went to Old Navy and I am very close to a 14 pant and I am in an XL top.  I bought a 16 jean, but they are already a bit loose, so I may exchange them for a 14.  Yay!!

Wednesday update

I had a great visit with my friend, Laura, last night.  It was so good to catch up with her!  It was just like old times!  We picked up right where we left off!  We had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.  It was so yummy!  I had some chicken in lemon sauce with asparigus and garlic mashed potatoes.  I ate about 1/8th of what was on the plate but it was so good!  I also had 3 bites of carrot cake cheesecake.  Yum!! 

Exciting!

I recently got in touch with an old friend and we are meeting for dinner tonight.  I haven't seen her in years and I am really looking forward to catchin up with her.  I am excited to see if she will notice the changes in me.  The last time I saw her, I was really putting on weight and I was still in my "tom boy" stage.  I am a lot "girly-er" now and I feel like I carry myslef a bit differently.  She was always a "girly-girl", but she was so nice to me.  It'll be so fun to see what she's been up to for the last several years.

I had my 9 month check up with Julie yesterday.  I talked to her about the "spells" I've been getting.  It happened again over the weekend and it's making me a bit nervous.  It seems like it happens when I stand in one place for a long time.  I get really light headed and almost pass out.  It's happened 3 times now and I'm not sure what's wrong.  I did labs last week and I'm anemic.  I'm not suprised, I've always had iron issued.  I am not sure if I am not absorbing any iron or if there is something more wrong.  I had to do some more labs yesterday, so hopefully I will learn something soon.  I may have to go to a hemotologist to figure out what's happening. 

I am happy to report that I've officially lost 72% of my excess body weight.  Yay!  I'm already considered a successful surgery patient!  I'm not done...  I'm not at my goal.  I still have about 30 lbs to lose before I am at the high end of my goal for myself.  But according to the doctor, I am a successful surgery patient.  Their goal for us is 70-75% excess weight loss.  That was pretty exciting to learn.  I did learn that I am going to have to stop supplementing protein and I have to get it through real food versus powder.  I am a little nervous about that, but I will work on a new menu this week to try to get all the protein in.

Monday check in

We had a blast at King's Island on Saturday!  It never rained and it actually ended up being a nice day!  We rode quite a few rides and really loved the water park!  Here is a picture from one of the rides.  It's called the Firehawk and it's one of the most intense coasters I've ever ridden.  My mom was terrified!  This picture cracks me up!

Fun Weekend!

We are going to King's Island tomorrow and I am so excited!  It'll be great!  We are renting a van and going with my Mom and David, Chris and Ashley!  The last time I took Chris (about 4 years ago) for his birthday, I wasn't able to ride any of the rides with him and it was an awful experience!  I am so excited to go and ride everything!  I haven't been on a water slide in years and I can't wait to have a great day!  As much as we need rain, I am hoping it will hold off long enough for us to have a wonderful day! 

Quiz about me...

I am shamelessly stealing this from my good friend's blog Louanna's blog- Thanks Louanna!  I love these things! 

1. What is your occupation right now ?
Express MCO Liaison at a large insurance company

2.What color are your socks right now?
Not wearing any!  I hate socks!

3. What are you listening to right now?

Co-workers talking.  It's about time for my IPOD.

4. What was the last thing that you ate?
a piece of delicious watermelon

5. Can you drive a stick shift?
No. 

6. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
My mom yesterday

7. Do you like the person who sent this to you?
I adore her!

8. How old are you today?
30

9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?
Football


10. What is your favorite drink?
water or milk

11. Have you ever dyed your hair?
Yep.  I do it every few months.  It's red right now.

12. Favourite food?
Hmmm, I like Subway's turkey breast and bacon on 9 grain honey oat.  I only eat the bottom half of the bread, but it's yummy.  I load it with lettuce, tomato, black olive and pickle. 

13. What is the last movie you watched?
I saw Winnie the Pooh last.  Ehhh.  I've also seen Harry Potter 2 times in the last 2 weeks and I saw Crazy Stupid Love.  It was great.  I also saw Friends with Benefits.  It's was fun, too.

14. Favourite day of the year?
Christmas.  I love watching family members opening presents that I bought for them!  (Stole that from Louanna, but I agree!)


15. How do you vent anger?
Honestly, I usually curse like a sailor!  I talk to Nick and yell into my pillow.

16. What was your favourite toy as a child?
I had a sit and spin that I loved!  I also liked Barbies and Cabbage Patch Kids.

17. What is your favorite season?
Fall.  I  love the colors and the smells and the crisp, cool air.


18. Cherries or Blueberries?
Blueberries.  I love the smell of them!

19. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back?




20. Where is you favorite place to escape?

I love my house.  I don't get to spend a lot of time at home, so I love to be there.  It's so quiet and cool and peaceful. 

21. Favorite Tv Show?
I like Mike and Molly as a comedy and Criminal Minds as a drama.

22. Living arrangements?
With my hubby and our pal, Peyton.  We have a ranch style house.


23. When was the last time you cried?
Earlier today when I heard that my best friend's step father passed.  He's been fighting brain cancer for about 2 years.  I am so sad for Trina and her Mom.

24. What is on the floor of your closet?
shoes and laundry

25. Who is the friend you have had the longest?
My Mom has been my best friend since the moment I was born. 

26. What did you do last night?
Went to dinner for my youngest brother's 22nd birthday.

27. What are you most afraid of?
Losing a loved one.

28. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers?
Cheese, but please make that a turkey burger!


29. Favourite dog breed?
I like a lot of dogs.  I love Peyton and he's a shephard mix.

30. Favourite day of the week?
Saturday.  It's the day I get to spend with Nick and we normally do fun stuff!

31. How many states have you lived in?
Indiana, Texas, Wisconsin, Utah, Virginia

32. Diamonds or pearls?
Diamonds.  Love that bling.

33. What is your favourite flower? 
I love most flowers!!  I love tulips the most.

New photos

Here are some new pictures...  a few from our "fancy" date night over the weekend and then some of me being silly. 

Amazing weekend!

I had such a nice weekend!!  Friday night Nick and I went to see Crazy Supid Love.  It was a really cute movie.  A romantic comedy for sure.  Saturday I went to see Winnie the Pooh with Jake, Jenny, Makayla, Nathan and my Mom and David.  It was cute.  We went to lunch after and it was nice visiting.  Saturday afternoon Nick and I went swimming.  The water was great!  Saturday evening we went on a "fancy" date.  We had a really nice time!  We got all dressed up and went to dinner at the Melting Pot.  Yum!!  Then we went downtown and walked around the mall for a while.  We went on a carriage ride and it was beautiful!  It was a really nice evening and our driver was a lot of fun!  Then we drove around for a while and people-watched.  Sunday we ran some errands and went swimming again.  I did homework and Nick took advantage of double XP weekend on X Box.  It was a nice and laid back day.

Today is Chris' birthday and we are going to Fujiyama's for dinner with the fam.  That should be fun!  This weekend, Nick, Mom, Dave and I are taking Chris and Ashley to King's Island for is birthday.  It should be great!  I hope it's not too hot!!

My stall seems to be over, too!  I have been stuck at 208.8 - 209.6 for about 3 solid weeks and this morning, 206.4!   Yay!  I won't do my "official" weigh in until Sunday, so we'll see where I am then.

Fun times!!