Retired and ready for the next phase of my life to begin...

I am now retired from Hill's.  It hasn't really sunk in yet.  I had a dream last night that I forgot some of my stuff at work and had to go clean it out.  I am pretty sure I got everything though.  I have been bring stuff home for a month or so.  It is bitter sweet.  I will miss all my friends that I have made over the last 20+ years.

Larry and I are going to be working around the house together.  We have walls,  trim and doors to paint, get stuff ready for a garage sale and take a much deserved vacation.

We are going to spend more time with our grandkids and family and I am going to continue taking lots of pictures and scrapbooking and making cards.

My weight loss journey is still moving along.  Now that I am retired, I plan to walk first thing each morning.  My next visit with Dr Hu is this coming Friday, so I will see if I lost any more since my last visit.  I am wearing smaller sizes.  I have lots of bigger sizes I have been moving out of my closet and into the "For Sale" pile.

Been a while since I have posted here

It's been a busy winter.  I am soooo looking forwasrd to spring!  We have had some awesome weather the last few days here but winter is still with us and cooler weather is upon us again.

My weight loss journey is going well.  I have lost almost 40 lbs now.  I do feel so much better.  I still have 30+ to go.  Still need to get more walking in.

Spent the day today with my daughter and grandson.  He had his 1 yr pictures taken today.  More to come on that later :)

In case you didn't already know, I am retiring from Hill's the end of March.  I have been at Hill's for almost 20 years. They offered a whole bunch of us early retirement.  I am planning to spend time helping Larry with remodeling our house, working on organizing stuff around the house, scrapbooking, making cards, doing more with my photography and travelling.  I am sure there will be lots more that I will be doing.

My granddaughters just celebrated their 4th birthday.  We had a wonderful celebration at Anthony & Evie's.  They loved being the center of attention.  They are such beautiful little princesses.

Braxton, my youngest grandson, just turned 1.  We celebrated his birthday with family here at our house.

Still working on getting pictures edited before I post them.

Well , have a great week!  More to come!

Hope Everyone Had a Blessed Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family.  We celebrated last Sunday.  Had an early dinner at our home.  Turkey and all the fixings.  It was good to see my niece, Mary and her family.  They came om Florida to spend the holiday with us.  Got lots of great pictures that I will be posting after I get them edited.

Larry and I have been out Christmas shopping the past couple of days.  We are almost done!!  Now to work on decorating the house and wrapping gifts. 

Still doing ok with the new eating lifestyle. I now have a bad head cold.  It is even messing with my equilibrium.  It needs to go away quickly.  Have to go back to work on Monday!!

Everyone have a wonderful rest of the weekend!

6 Weeks Post Surgery

Had my 6 week appt with Dr Hu.  Doing good.  Got my first fill.  3.5 cc's.  I have lost 25 lbs so far!!!  This includes the 10 days pre surgery that I lost 10 lbs.  So far this journey has been good.  Not easy but any means.  Still takes a change in mind set.  I need to exercise more.  A daily walk or other aeroblic exercise of at least 30 minutes is a must but so hard to fit in sometimes. 

Looking forward to Sunday.  We are having my family over for Thanksgiving dinner.  Larry got the turkey and some of the fixings yesterday. 

Today is my niece's 4th wedding anniversay!!!  Happy Anniversary Mary & Brian!!!

Went to a Bunko gathering on Tueday evening.  Ladies, if you are interested in being a member of our newly formed Bunko group here in Topeka, let me know.  We need a few more players.  It's lots of fun!!!

Have been doing some stamping and coloring with my copics.  I love doing this!!

Everyone have a wonderful day!!

Busy Day

Had a busy and good day.  Had some yummy baked tilapia for lunch.  First solid food I have actually had for a month.  I chewed it up really good.  Had some potato soup for dinner.  And now having an instant breakfast with protin powder to drink.  Need to get at least 60 g of protein, preferably 85 g.  A lot of protein. 

Went to my first WLS Support Group meeting.  It was a great meeting.  This one is the last Tuesday of each month.  Then there is one on Saturday mornings once a month at St Francis that I am going to also attend.  That is the 2nd Saturday of each month before the WLS seminar.

Need to work on my Halloween Cards tomorrow evening.  Haven't had a chance to finish them up but it is going to be Halloween in just a few days!!

Have a wonderful evening!

Great Week so far!

Work was good.  Had all day meeting/workshop for new system on Wednesday.  Very productive.  We got lots done with testing and finding what needs to be fixed.  I was exhaused by the end of the day but did my walk at the mall when I got home. 

This evening Larry and I went to Aidan's school fundraiser.  The theme is "Sock Hop".  It was really neat.  They had a DJ playing 50's music and the girls had on poodle skirts and ponytails and the boys had on white shirts and rolled up jeans.  Aidan was so cute.  I'll get pics from Evie and share them later.

Taking a vacation day tomorrow.  Plan to work on my Halloween Magnolias and a few other "me" things. 

Doing great with the new "eating" plan.  One of my biggest challenge is getting in all the liquids I need.  Not supposed to drink anything for an hour after I eat and at least 30 minutes before.  Have been trying some new recipes.  I still have to puree most of what I eat.  Made some roasted cauliflower on Monday evening and pureed it.  It is really good.  Also roasted a sweet potato.  So, most dinner meals this week I have had my pureed turkey, cauliflower and some sweet potato.

Well, everyone have a great evening.

Going Back to Work Monday, Tomorrow

The time has really gone fast.  I had hoped to get more stuff done, ie scrapbooking, cards, and organizing my stuff.

I am feeling good.  Have been walking at least 30 minutes each day now.  I am going to work up to 45 minutes in the next couple of weeks. 

My eating plan is doing ok.  I am pureeing everything I am eating now.  I had pureed bean soup that my friend, Ani, made, pureed ground turkey, pureed baby carrots, pureed chopped apples that my sister-in-law, Lortta brought over.  She had made sugar free apple pies and brought me some of the chopped apples that didn't go into a pie.  What a yummy treat.  She makes such a beautiful and yummy pie.

Haven't worked on my Maggies for a couple of days.  Too much else going on. 

Oh, and we have wasps in the house.  We have no idea where they are coming from.  We have killed 8.  Hubby is going to call our pest control people tomorrow for sure.

Everyone have a great evening.

Post Lap Band Surgery - Day 3

Today I am more sore and tired.  I feel like someone kicked me in the left side of my tummy.  Still didn't take any pain meds.  Trying to stay off them....  I hate being in lala land. :)

Stamped some of my Magnolia Stamps onto cardstock and plan to start coloring them this evening.  Last night I almost completed the Tilda Witch with Vampire Edwin.  Such a cute card designed by Lisa Cook.  I wasn't able to go to class today so I picked up the kit.

Here is a link to Lisa's cards on Facebook.  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Creative-Cards-By-Lisa/314052109010?ref=ts

Day 2 Post Op

Feeling really good.  Didn't take any pain medicine today.  Went to pick up my Magnolia Stamp kit, Witch Tilda and some new copic pens, then to Joann's and then home.  Felt food to get out for a little bit.  Took a short walk outside with my hubby. Eatting cream soups, applesauce, and chocolate pudding.  All these I have added protein powder to.  Supposed to get lots of protein daily.  Helps to keep muscles good. 

Worked on coloring my Witch Tilda and Vampire Edwin this evening.  Such a cute card this is going to be. Will finish it up tomorrow and work on some others.  Halloween is just around the corner.  :)

First Day of Pre-Op Diet

Well, so far so good.  It is hard though.  Have to think about what I am going to be eating.  Went to the store and stocked up on food that I can have.  Of course forgot a couple of things but will get those later this week.

Having friends over this evening from our small group at church.  Appetizers are on the menu.  I have some cucumbers and cauliflower cut up and some celery for me since these are on my "snack" approved list.

We are getting ready for a garage sale for this next week end.  We have a lot of "stuff" to get rid of.