It’s that time of year again

Here’s this year’s stash of Halloween candy:

It’s about half as much as last year because we had a ton left over and that was after I started giving out two to every kid. We just don’t have that many kids in our neighborhood and no one in this house needs to eat the left-over candy.

I’m still debating on whether or not to take Maddie out trick or treating or dress her up and let her pass out candy. It’ll probably be the latter, if I had to guess.

I hope you all have a wonderfully spooky Halloween!

Why don’t they weigh me AFTER they take my blood?

I went to the doctor today. She adjusted my z@oloft dosage and drew blood to test for other deficiencies. She’s also checking my thyroid and cholesterol just for kicks.

But the big news is that the nurse was able to use the normal blood pressure cuff on me instead of the fatty cuff. I almost cried. How effing cool is that?

Also, I weigh 6 pounds more there than I do here at home. I’m totally blaming my shoes. They’re really heavy.

Overwhelmed

I got some new supplements a couple of weeks ago. A multivitamin and some iron, to be exact. After a week of taking them, I felt remarkably better. I’m pretty sure it was the iron that made the most difference, since I’m anemic, but, I digress. I had a few days of feeling great and then it went downhill. FAST. Apparently, taking the iron at the same time as my z@loft was a mistake. Something went wonky and my z@loft stopped working. I had a very bad couple of days until I figured out what was going on. I moved my iron pill to the evening and things are better now. But, sheesh… that was terrible.

I got to see Maddie play with the other kids at school yesterday and it was so obvious that my girl is hyper. She was running around like a spaz trying to play with all the balls she could get her hands on, and the other kids just sort of played calmly. It may be because she’s older than all the other kids in her class, but I’m guessing it’s just that she’s a total spaz.

In order to try and curb the “drunk on freedom” thing she’s got going, we’re weaning her off the play yard. Now don’t get your knickers in a a twist or anything. Maddie isn’t confined to her play yard every waking minute of the day, but she doesn’t have free run of the house, either. We opted not to childproof the whole house and instead keep a tight rein on Maddie. (We have the extension kit for the yard and it literally takes up more than half of the available space in our living room. She’s not in a veal fattening pen or anything. (GAH! Defensive much??)) Last night and this morning, we gated off the living room and let her run wild. My lord. She’s into EVERYTHING. I feel like all I’m doing is telling her “no.” She’s worn me out and we’ve only been up for three hours.

She also decided that she doesn’t need to hold our hands when we’re out and about. At the pumpkin patch on Friday, she kept ripping her hand away and taking off. I decided right there and then that I was going to buy a kid leash. I used to be one of those judgmental childless people that frowned on the leash. Now? I’m getting two in case one breaks.

Happy Blogaversary 2.0!

Well, here we are again.  Two years to the day of All Dressed Up.  This last year wasn’t quite as eventful as the first, but certainly kept this family on its toes none-the-less.   We’ve kept a baby, now toddler, alive and mostly happy (if she agrees or not), the same goes for us generally speaking, Erica’s had her weight loss surgery and is seeing unbelievable results (IMHO), Maddie’s started pre-school, Erica’s gone through an I’ve-lost-count number of haircuts, gone to Florida and Disney with a friend, and as usual all the sundry junk that makes up our lives.  We’re up to 502 posts (from 239) and 3782 comments (from 1093).  Great work Erica, I’m very proud of you and here’s to racking up another terrific year for us, the blog, and your blog buddies!

Love,

G

Pumpkin Patch

We took Maddie to the Dallas Arboretum on Friday and let her play in the pumpkin patch. Pics are up at Flickr.

Quick Update

My gastric bypass was three months ago today. Here are some pics and here are some stats:

* I’ve lost 60 lbs. I weigh 240 (and a half, if we’re being totally honest.).

* I’m wearing a size 20 jean and an 18/20 (2x) shirt.

* My hair has started falling out in earnest.

* I no longer have any back, hip or foot pain.

* I’ve started taking an iron supplement and my energy level skyrocketed.

* I’ve lost a half shoe size. (From 7 to 6.5)

* I’ve lost at least a half ring size. I’m currently wearing a sterling silver Mickey Mouse ring from Disney World as a wedding band.

* I’ve gone down two band sizes in bras, but not cup sizes. Turns out I’m having to stuff loose, extra skin into my bras now. It’s even less sexy than it sounds.

* I’m officially thrilled with my results and glad that I had the surgery. I would do it again in a heartbeat, even knowing how rough the first two months are.

Am going crazy

Maddie whines. A lot. And always for me. When I was in Florida, Gerald says that Maddie didn’t whine or pitch at fit at all. Not once.

This morning, she’s been out of bed for an hour and she’s already thrown two whiny fits.

Why me? Seriously, why does she do this shit for me and no one else? What can I do differently? I really don’t want to listen to her whining and fake crying all day every day. I want to laugh and play and have fun. I want to understand what it is she’s upset about and fix it, if I can. I want some peace and quiet.

What can I do?

Not a post about my trip to Florida

I’m back from Florida and I owe you a post and some pictures. However, it’s going to be a while. I’m still glowing with happiness and nursing my sunburn and I just want to keep it for a little while longer before I tell everyone about it.

BUT I did want to tell you that Amelia Sprout sent us the most adorable sock monkey I’ve ever seen. Seriously, it’s so stinkin’ cute. I’ll snap a pic and upload it later.

My Aunt P sent me the sweetest card and a check as a congratulations for reaching the “50 lbs Lost” mark. I’m going to use it to buy myself a fabulous pair of shoes. Yay!

Also, I got a thank you email for my PiF package. All is forgiven.

Later, Gators

In two and a half hours, I’ll be off on my Florida vacation. I’m meeting my best friend, lady godiva, and her sister in Orlando. We’re going to have four days of sun, fun and very little sleep.

Don’t worry, I’m totally bringing you back a present.

So this is self-esteem…

I’ve lost 55 pound in the last three(ish) months. Wait, let me say that again: I’VE LOST 55 POUNDS. That, my friends, is a heckuva lotta weight. I’m more than a third of my way to to goal and there have been quite a few changes in my everyday life.

1. I can cross my legs.

2. My feet, knees and back no longer ache at the end of the day or first thing in the morning.

3. I enjoy shopping for clothes.

4. I try things on and no longer look in the mirror with disgust.

5. I cut all my hair off. It’s completely liberating. I no longer hide behind my hair.

6. I feel really good about myself. I feel cute, and attractive and vibrant.

7. For the first time in 12 or 15 years, I can say “I have less than 100 pounds to lose.”

8. I bought a pair of size 20 jeans this week and they fit beautifully.

9. I participate in the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure almost every year. Each year, I get a commemorative t-shirt and order the largest size. I’ve NEVER been able to wear my shirts. I just sort of collect them. I can wear them now.

10. I’m proud of myself for doing this. It’s not easy. I struggle with food demons on a daily basis. As a matter of fact, just last night, I convinced myself that it was ok to eat a small piece of the banana nut bread that I made for Maddie and Gerald. I ate it and paid for it. NOT WORTH IT and I knew that, but I did it anyway. But every day, I start over and I don’t beat myself up over stumbles. I’m still learning. I’m a work in progress.