WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR MARCH 2017

Lois: Thank you for the support - definitely not "trite". We had a meeting in our home earlier today with a service coordinator from the ARC (a local agency that provides various services for mentally challenged), now that we finally were able to get her reinstated under Medicaid & what's called Medicaid Waiver (was wrongly dropped when we adopted her & her service coordinator at the time neglected to handle it properly so she wouldn't be) - both of which are needed to access most services for disabled. So we can now start the process of getting some different things set up. At the meeting today, we basically just talked about what we want to try to set up & now have to wait for the agency to do their part. Hopefully that will help if we can get some types of respite or community habilitation services for her & will also be good for her to be able to take part in some programs in the area for kids with disabilities like her. There are also more programs that will be an option for her after she's 18, but that's still 3 yrs away. Not as many things for kids/teens, but he's going to look into a program I asked about that I saw online that I think is one or two Friday evenings each month where we can leave her to do activities with other kids & then pick her up again a couple of hrs later (ran by the agency he works for - not sure why he doesn't already know about it). Just hope this doesn't take forever to get these things set up. It's taken almost 2 yrs just to get to this point in the process. Trying to stay hopeful. At least it's finally some progress. Reminds me of my wt loss efforts. Any progress is still progress.

I haven't watched the news at all today, so didn't know about the terrible news in the UK either until I read about it on here. Had to ask my DH about it - he saw it online when he got home, but hadn't mentioned it yet. My heart goes out to all who've been affected by this terrible tragedy.

Glad I was feeling better this afternoon. After the caseworker left, I did an hour on my treadmill. Yay! Then ate a light dinner & packed my gym bag to go work out after work & TOPS meeting tomorrow. Increased my wts on some machines yesterday & really feeling it in my inner thighs today. Reminds me I'm making positive progress, though.

Gonna have a few strawberries I logged earlier, but haven't actually eaten yet, then make salad for tomorrow's lunch & get to bed soon.

Goodnight all.

-- Becky (NY)

Leigh in France: Congratulations on your great weigh in.

Heather, Kate, Sharon, and others in the UK: I am so sorry about the terrorist attack. Sending prayers for the safety of all. :sad: Check in when you can so we know you're safe.

Becca: Get yourself some Vitamin D3, aka the sunshine vitamin. It helps combat the blues. (((HUGS))) I vary the amount I take daily from 2000IU to 6000IU, more in the dark days of winter and less in the longer days of summer. I like capsules best. It isn't that costly. Freddies would have it, but Walmart is likely cheaper.

DJ: Thanks for asking about DH's eyes. H'es healing well and will get new glasses on the 30th.

Heather: Thanks for checking in. It is good that your son has canine companions. Dogs aare great at healing our worries. :flowerforyou:

Rori: I'm glad you've read about the need for all of us to have some control so we can feel secure.

I'm not done reading, but I need to go work on dinner. I'll be back when I can.

Katla in beautiful NW Oregon

Hugs and prayers to all who need them. Take care of yourselves ladies.

Paula Y.

Wow! I think I'm somewhat caught up.

Re, looking good, girl!

Becky, good luck with your quest for some respite care and way to go being proactive. A good friend of mine has an adult daughter with Down Syndrome who is in her forties. She sometimes goes to sleep away camp for a week at a time. I'm not real sure how she got hooked up with that. I guess my friend is also lucky in that she is divorced from her daughter's father, both are now married to different people, and her daughter can go stay with her father in emergencies or when my friend and her husband need to get away. Even so, the weight of the responsibility can be overwhelming at times. I feel for you and your DH. My 8-year old grandson has autism, and my prayer continues to be that he will be able to be a fully functioning adult who can live independently.

Heather, I'm glad you are safe.

No time or energy to comment on any more posts. Hugs and love to all,

K

This morning I felt really good in my clothes. By this evening I had too many calories and feel like a loser. I need to maintain perspective and keep realizing that I get to feel successful tomorrow Joyce in Alberta Canada

Lenora

My heart is saddened for the people in London. This is a crazy world we live in.

Heather - I am so glad that you are safe and sound.

Sharon In Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

Kate UK

DH and I were stunned by our tax bite this year . And oh yeah, I come home to find masonry falling off the chimney onto the porch, chunks of masonry are falling off our chimney

Rori (( ))

Beth last nite I was rummaging for something sweet to eat while DH was out playing soccer--nothing seemed right, tried making granola but burned it in the oven--no sweets for me but ate microwave popcorn which is incredibly horrible and bad for you. Time to start over today, one positive choice at a time.

Made a big food delivery -6 very large boxes- of food for our food drive, lots of calorie burn! Also I have my final push for collecting cold hard cash donations from our teachers, worth the effort, every dollar is quadrupled buying power for the food pantry, they have fresh produce and quality protein choices.

Have a positive day everyone. NYKAREN

Re: Loved the time-lapse photos, you look lovely at any weight. Pleased for you that you’re grabbing for the brass ring. They might be very happy to accommodate the hours you prefer to work. I know most bosses would love to have more extended coverage.

Allie: Glad you’re getting some perspective on your new office manager. Hope you can develop a good relationship with her.

Lois: Congrats on the ten-inch loss around your waist!

Becky: I’m sorry about the loss of your mother. Writing about it helped me through much of that initial time—and a friend who was a shrink convinced me, a couple years after Mama died, to take her journals with me to a hotel, away from everyone and everything, and just read and write myself through her life. It was a big step forward in dealing with that overwhelming grief. Your own strength in taking your niece in is something I’m not sure I could have ever done. The most exhausting thing may be dealing with the system that should be helping care for them. I’ve watched my sister fight that fight since her son, who is profoundly Down’s, was born 32 years ago.

Glo: glad you took Zac in to be seen, and hope the news continues good as he goes to a specialist. On the job front, check out www.indeed.com if you haven’t already, it’s an aggregation site that allows you to search in your specific area for exactly what you’re looking for—and pulls in every job advertised online. Searches hundreds of sites for you.

Beth: Hope things continue going well for your father, and that the new aide works out well for your son. She sounds quite good.

Lenora: Hope you’re done chewing nails… the good news is, they’re high in iron, and low in calories, at least the ten-penny ones, anyway. The bad news is, you’ll be with Lois at the dentist! Hope your birthday was happy.

Kate: LOVED all the pictures from Benidorm.

Becca: Forgiving ourselves may be the hardest thing we ever do! Think of it as weight loss for the soul. And the only one who can shed that weight, just like any other weight, is you.

TNToni: We’re taught to be people-pleasers from the moment we exit the womb, and that’s reinforced all our lives. Taking care of ourselves first is a learning curve. You can get there. And Yellowstone is amazing. Been there about a half dozen times, and still haven’t seen anything close to all of it. The fact that a large part of it is the caldera of a volcano can get a little nerve-racking on occasion!

Sharon in Lethbridge: gorgeous daughter, grandkids, and son-in-law.

Rita: Hope the SSI decision is in your favor. You deserve a break.

Jolene: Glad the situation resolved on campus. Scary stuff. Lived through a bomb scare in base housing during the Gulf War that etched itself on my brain.

Leigh in France: congrats on the 3.5 pound weight loss!

Carol/Peach: Corey and I both struggle with the noise level and constant movement of our grandkids, too. We try to go visit them there, rather than have them here, for that reason. You probably feel much worse about it than they do—they’re resilient little critters.

Rori: glad the clothes are giving you the truth, even if the scale won’t. Aging is hard—and as I think I’ve said before, I’m seriously pleased that I married a man nine years younger. Wish I had advice for what's to come, but am honestly hoping my husband needs the advice more than I do.

Barbie: Glad your Jake is back home.

Joyce: love your rambles!

NYKaren: We got a popcorn popper with a rotating sweep that goes on top of the stove. You can add as little as a teaspoon of oil, and it tastes SO much better than the hot air poppers. Takes almost exactly as long as the microwave, and has none of the bad chemical stuff and massive overdose of sodium. We love it, this is a link to the one we bought on Amazon, and use it two or three times a week…

Heather: Glad you were nowhere near London. So relieved to see your post when I got up this morning. Glad, too, that you had a good visit with your son.

Everyone: Thank you for the reaction both to the news of my interview coming up Monday and your comments on my tribute to Mama. She’s been gone almost 20 years now, and I’m only beginning to think about who she really was instead of simply mourning her loss. Even as she left, she was still teaching me how to be as strong as she was. Surviving the first years after her death taught me I am strong enough to deal with anything.

Love y'all,
Lisa in West Texas

Lisa- you make me laugh. I've never heard the word "frownie" people but I have seen them.
Sue

Good morning ladies! Still fighting the crud; but I expect this battle to last a week or more (as usual). Getting my water intake in through drinking tea is helping a lot. Soothes the throat and warms up my sinuses/eases the pressure a bit. I have had an interesting thing happen with my Egyptian Licorice tea...it is gone. LOL! My hubby has always drank his coffee like a liquid candy bar. Lots of flavored creamers and sugar to cover the taste of coffee. I gave him a cup of the Egyptian Licorice tea last week, when he asked if there was something hot he could drink other than the sweet, unhealthy coffee. He loves it! He has been drinking 2-4 cups a day! It is also keeping him from eating candy. I know a week is no "habit", but it's a start!
Heather - so glad you are okay and enjoyed your visit with your son.
Toni- I love the idea of a study group! For me that is even better than a "book club". I like to pick out my own books to read because what I read on any given day/week all depends on my state of mind. But I ALWAYS love learning about something new. Maybe I will see if I can get some local ladies interested in forming a study group. Thanks for the inspiration!
Beth-So happy to hear that you have good news on both fronts! Here's hoping your dad continues to improve and the potential "help" for your son works out!
Rori and all looking into care or caring for aging parents: Have you read Being Mortal by Atul Gawande?! It has been out (and on the best seller list) for a few years. It was really an eye opener for myself, as we began caring for my MIL. It explains the thinking of our parents and loved ones. When we think they are being childish or selfish or difficult, it is just recognizing the loss or diminishing of their mental/physical capabilities, wanting to have the familiar around them and to have the control to make their own choices. I really think Being Mortal is one of the top 10 books I have ever read.
There are more of you I wanted to reply to; but time marches on and the kids are here and ready to get busy. ttfn KJ

Becca - I totally agree with Leigh. Your "no poo" experiment was very interesting and we are glad you shared that with us! I know hearing about it from you validated some new ideas I had about my own hair care.

Beth, glad your dad is recovering. Hope he can get up and start walking today.

Lisa, loved your update. Hope Corey is healing up just fine. Had to laugh at your comment on "frownie" people and "being an old lady who bites people." I remember when I made the firm decision to leave my job and gave 2 weeks notice, it's like a veil was lifted and I realized all the stuff I had been "putting up with" at work.

Barbie, I ordered a couple Susan Cain books on quiet and introverts from the library. And a couple Gretchen Rubin's! Thank you for mentioning them. Glad Jake is home safe and sound.

Rori, I also ordered that "How to Say it to Seniors". My DH is 71... 6 years older than me and also creative in the ways he "helps". And what you said about their behavior being the need to hang onto control REALLY hit home with me.

I'm getting an overwhelming case of cabin fever being home with him 24/7 now that I'm not working the couple days a week and the weather continues to be crappy - all we can do is watch the grass and weeds grow and I try to hoe a few out between the raindrops.

Yesterday he was on the 2nd day of an argumentative funk (and he hadn't been sleeping well/arm pain for a couple nights) so I climbed into the car at 9 am and announced I was going to the gym/grocery shopping. Ran a lot of errands and got a lot of steps in at the gym, also met a very sweet and inspiring young lady (24) on the treadmill next to mine who is living with and helping care for her grandmother in addition to working full time.

I got home at noon with a couple orders of Kobo Teriyaki (1 chicken and 1 beef) - we actually get about three meals each plus enough left over for fried rice! I always have a few pieces with a huge salad, DH has his with bean salad. I am amazed to think I used to polish off a huge container of this at lunch and then eat a big supper! And stay slim! Where did my metabolism go, lol???

It's a better day today! (Aim to keep it that way!)

Lanette
SW WA State