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MyFitnessPal Community

WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR MAY 2019

barbiecat

I love the feeling of a new month and the chance to make a fresh start. My journey to health and fitness has been so great with all of you to share it with me. You add so much to my life by telling the story of your life.

If you made goals or resolutions for April, how did you do?
What goals or resolutions have you made for May?

The name of the thread is Women Ages 50+ but all women are welcome. In the years I've participated on this thread we have had active participation from women ages 40 something all the way to 80 something.

Be sure to bookmark the page so you can find it again.

It helps if you sign your post with a name or nickname and a location either specific or general.

April Resolutions (with end of the month comments)
*daily meditation--almost every day
*SWSY twice a week--almost never

May Resolutions
*keep doing the things that have been working (walking, drinking water, logging food and exercise, riding the exercise bike, dancing, reading this thread, meditating, pulling weeds)

My word for 2019 is "pause".

Barbie from NW WA

The reason most people fail instead of succeed is that they trade what they want the MOST for what they want at the MOMENT.

Replies

1948Peachy

Rebecca ~ That looks like great storage space.

Heather ~ The puffy crust looks delicious.

Pets: We have spent a lot of money on our over sized Pomeranian. But, we love that dog to pieces even though he is spoiled rotten and rules the house. He will be 10 in September and I hope he will be round for 5 or 6 more years.

Carol in GA

pipcd34

Jjjjj

grandmallie

Well I am home and in pajama's but am on cloud 9 ,because I witnessed a Miracle , honestly....
I went down to see my DFIL for dinner..and he was alert and watching an Edward G Robinson movie.. and he actually said a few words,I asked if it was a bad guy movie and he said no..
I wheeled him into the dining room and him at the table.. still wide awake so poured him some root beer and bless his heart he picked it up on his own and was drinking it, so I said to myself.. ok lets try some canned spaghetti and meatballs... and I heated that up.. and what did he do he picked up a spoon and was feeding himself.. now this hasn't happened in a few months and mostly it has been sleep eating.. Tom walked in and almost fell over as we were both in tears to see this.. he ate the spaghetti on his own and I threw caution to the wind and got him mashed and gravy. he chowed that too. i brought over a plate of pot roast and carrots,chopped well and he was getting a bit tired so I fed him that, and then we finished off the night with an ice cream..
He has been off the trazodone during the daytime for the last week and honestly Tom and I both think that had him so zooed out thats why he slept so much...We know every day wont be like today, and he is getting near the end of his time with us, but what we witnessed was a Miracle and a blessing..

bananasandoranges

Very late evening check in

✔️ 1. weighed in today 59.5
✔️2. tracked all so far
✔️3. 30 min exercise (cleaning and little walk)
✔️ 4. five minutes meditation
✔️5.Spend at least 2h on long term writing project
✔️6.produce at least 10-11 pages per day (until May 14th)
✔️ 7. Take care of at least one shorter (1 pagish) writing or administrative task/bill, (union work doesn't count)
✔️ 8. At least 15 min cleaning, (15 min ironing, and 5 min basic picking up)
✔️9. At least 15 min filing/paperwork
✔️ 10.average 1100 calories - ok for today, average 48 calories over per day, or291 over for 6 days, mostly due to going over 395 over yesterday

• Overall Feeling: much better
• Tracking : I think so
• Exercise : just barely enough
• 1100 calories net average : for today yes
• Long term writing 2hrs: yes
• Long term writing 10-11 pages day until May 14th : yes
• Short term writing/admin : yes, wrote to taxes
• Bright Spots : colleagues were helpful and sympathetic, this one girl who has not been nice for some time was warm and supportive - we had a good connection

Grateful :
1. colleague's support and good suggestions this evening
2. was able to use old academic blog from 2015 to produce pages
3. comfy bed
4. stayed on track today

bananasandoranges

I hesitated to go out and meet colleagues today. So glad I did. one gave me the good idea to add in some good old stuff for the stuff I'm sending this Tuesday. I had almost forgotten about a pretty decent academic blog I was writing in 2015 that I put on blind post. that gave me 30 pages. I have to relook at some of it, but...

grogers511

Hi folks! I'm struggling. Struggling badly. I'm going to sit down and write out my thoughts. Do a brain dump, sort it out and come up with a plan. I'm just overwhelmed with life. Time to take a breath. Give myself some grace. And get on with a healthier life plan.

--Ginger in Texas

bananasandoranges

Lanette I'm in France. Thanks for the welcome. I'm still quite overwhelmed by the very many posters. I think I might love the Tai chi video;

Anyone have a notion of how many we are? 20? more?

Katia interesting about MJ and MS. I think it usually works for my BIL but I have seen him be very paranoid.

Elizabeth, congratulations on realising you are at your goal.

it's 1:30 am and I'm tired. I hope sleep comes to meet me.

bananasandoranges

so if you have a couple of crackers at 1:30 am (not having gone to sleep ) do you count it for the new day or the previous day?

okiewoman510

Banana - Count it which ever day you want. Your body doesn’t know which day it is.

Okie

ginnytez

Beth-I so remember when I stopped having to buy in plus sizes and could get clothes in the “regular” area—that is awesome!

Tracey—sleep was so-so. Exhausted tonight, but wanted to catch up. Early night tonight. Rooting for you on job front.

Rebecca—glad knee and ankle feeling better. Falls are scarey.

Linda (Lybarni)-welcome. I’m a walker more than a runner. Sounds like you have an active plan!

Rori-can’t imagine a boot 24/7. Glad you found way to rest.

Elizabeth-congrats on goal weight. I don’t know how I will be selecting mine.

Grandmallie—great news on FIL. While his time may be limited, that is a great memory for you to have.

Got home late this afternoon. Conference was good but exhausting. So looking forward to crawling into my own bed (and will be doing so soon). Just want to try to catch up on here. Think I made good food choices and got lots of movement in. Logged everything as accurately as I could. Hopefully weight agrees, but now I am home and can definitely stay on track so I am not going to stress over it.

Ginny

pipcd34

klanders30

I’m happily home in bed after an intense work day. I met my festival orchestra (I experienced a good hour of strong unusually intense anxiety before hand). But turns out to be a truly wonderful group of kids—what a blessing—-responsive, musical, kind students. Tomorrow we have several rounds of rehearsals and then a 2:30 concert. I will be exhausted for sure. But I want to fit in exercise somehow tomorrow afterwards.

NYKAREN

Snowflake1968

Thank you all for your thoughts about Linda. She is a part of me forever.

Rori - the wedding is July 6 but there are some activities happening this month due to schedules. Next weekend his family is hosting a shower that his Mother will be able to attend. The end of May is the bachelorette, they have rented a house on a lake for the weekend. I think I may go stay for the weekend with them. I am invited, they are a mature group that mostly want to sit back and relax not have a drunken raunchy party so I won’t feel out of place.

I hope you continue to heal fast, what a pain, literally and figuratively.

Heather - thanks for your tip tondo before my interview.
Sorry for the loss of your daughter, my parents had a stillborn the year before I was born. My Dad told me my Mom was never the same after. I can’t imagine the heartbreak of that and in those days there was not much support for anyone that suffered that loss or as you said postpartum depression.

Lanette - “I too look at this group as my "tribe". We are all unique but have so many great things to share. How did I get so lucky as to stumble into the midst of you all?” - I couldn’t agree more.

Lisa - your Mother was beautiful, she looks like a movie star. Love your family picture.

Rebecca - those cabinets look confusing, but I bet they are awesome for storage!

Allie - how wonderful that you had a great day with DFIL. You will treasure that forever.

Ginger - I saw that little dog the other day and saved it.

Well I said I had an amazing day yesterday. I spent over 2 hours shopping with the Maid of Honor and one Bridesmaid for supplies for the bachelorette party. We came back to the house and I made supper, Lauryn then arrived and we started crafting. Lauryn and the one bridesmaid left around midnight and the maid of honor and I worked until 4am! We managed to get a lot accomplished, but have way more to finish. She is probably coming out next Thursday as well. Her original plan was to spend the day today too, but she is a bridesmaid in a wedding this weekend and had duties for it today.

I took the time out from crafting last night to go to my swim lesson. I love my new instructor, he pushes me out of my comfort zone and gives me the confidence I need to do it. For those of you that followed along last year with all of my frustration with breathing, I GOT IT, I was so proud of myself last night. I swam back and forth and back and forth for about 40 minutes and only stood up once in the middle of a lap! Then we went into the deep end. I had faith that I could swim from deep end out, but not shallow end in. I did it twice, once he held his finger on my back to show me I could do it, second he swam beside me! If Rodger didn’t have to work and we hadn’t had a houseful he would have appreciated my energy waking him up when I got home!

Lauryn and Michaela picked me up bright and early this morning to go shopping and we got home at lunchtime. My eating today has been like a teenagers! I had coffee for breakfast, KD for lunch and am eating frozen pizza for supper right now. I know my calories will be over today because I’m too tired to work it off, but I had 500 calories in the green yesterday when I closed my diary so I think I’m fine.

I am going to design a couple of gifts for Lauryn tonight for Mother’s Day for the kids to give her. She said they are struggling money wise right now and she is sure Ryan has nothing planned.

A very tired Tracey in Edmonton

Poerava14

Lanette: Two weeks ago yesterday we were sightseeing at Mesa Verde National Park. It was an incredibly beautiful day, and the ancient pueblo ruins were amazing to see. I tripped on steps that led to an scenic overlook because I was rushing.

Both ankles buckled to the left and swelled up immediately. Fortunately, this didn't happen on a hiking trail. Our car was just a few feet away. I hobbled back behind the driver's seat and set GoogleMaps to the closest Walgreens where I loaded up on RICE supplies. I still think it was a great trip, no pun intended. BTW: I'm enjoying "Women Rowing North"

Dr. Katie: I hear you about needing a break from the boot around 4 AM. Last night was a rough one. I pulled it off around 5, and blissfully rolled onto my side after rearranging pillows to protect both feet. DH slept through it all. How many weeks did you have to keep yours on?

After being active and on the move for so long, it's quite the adjustment to practice "rest" ethic. There is so much I'd like to be doing, especially with the promise of a nice warm weekend. But, not going to push it. I have a chair in the shower and a rolling chair in the living/dining/kitchen. Not driving anywhere if I can help it. DH is taking trash out and picking up the mail. I use exercise bands for upper body stretches while sitting in the recliner. Tried the recumbent bike last week, but it's too soon, so that activity will have to wait awhile. This will be my month to feast on audio books and movies, two of my favorite things.

Love and energy to you all.

Rori
SMILING in the
Colorado Foothills

pipcd34

stats for the day:

1st ride of the year, from the gym to work, nice weather

bike ride hm 2 gym- 8.12, 11.6amph, 132mhr, 1.57mi= 82c
apple watch- didn't turn on
Bike ride gym to sumn sta- 54.03min, 13.5amph, 147mhr, 12.11mi= 532c
apple watch- 451c
jog sta 2 wrk- 5min, 141mhr, 9.55min mi.50mi= 62c
apple watch- 55c
jog wrk 2 sta- 4.21min, 9.33min mi, 146mhr, .45mi= 59c
apple watch- 55c
bike ride dome 2 hm- 18.18mi, 8.5amph 143mhr, 2.60mi= 210c
apple watch- 148c

total cal 945

trucker743

Heather UK, I can't bear to see animals suffer either. My first Siamese was a whole revelation in human-feline interaction. She sensed me every mood. And she was so gentle that when my eldest daughter, at age about 9 months grabbed Tiki's tail and started gnawing it, Tiki's reaction was to spread herself out on the flooring and wail "Mom, get this thing off me.! I won't hurt it because I sense it's a kitten person, but puh-lease!!!"

Andromeda is my second Siamese, and hopefully my "to the end" cat. She should hopefully survive well into my late 80s-early 90s. I've made sure she and my youngest girl are bonded somewhat as well, just in case.

You must have felt the loss of your daughter terribly! I gave up a son for adoption in 1963 - just before everyone began keeping and raising their babies publicly. I knew it was for the best, and have not regretted my decision, but that has not kept me from mourning his loss. As it transpired, I had three lovely daughters. After the first two I actually yearned for another girl, at least partly because I knew girls, and was afraid to try something different. I had amneocentisis done because I was an older mother by then, and there was the concern for Down's Syndrome. She was the only baby we knew the sex of ahead of time. Pink everything! It was a pink explosion. As well as little dresses and adorable baby shoes at my shower. She is my near neighbor now, and the most like me, for good or ill, of any ofy girls.

My eldest girl's firstborn was a girl as well. My second girl, however, produced this elfin blond creature who almost immediately began growling, followed shortly by motor-like sounds. He was on our computer by age 3, with a passion for dinosaurs and snakes that continues, though he's 25. My eldest has 3girls and one boy. My middle girl had 3 boys and one girl. Her husband brought another boy with him when they married, and they adopted his sister's boy at 2 weeks old. My youngest has our dear Nicolas who is almost 7, and non-verbally autistic. That makes 6 boys and 5 girls, since one of my grandsons is now my granddaughter. I have a special bodlnd with her, my eldest and youngest grandson. My granddaughters, especially the eldest, who was my first grandchild, are also very dear to me. She (the eldest) is marrying a man who is custodial dad to my adorable 6-yo great granddaughter, Ayla.

Heather, this was mainly in response to you. I still wish veryuch to find out how my son has fared, but Ohio's adoption laws only allow me to put on record my contact information in case he wishes to reach out to me. I feel he is lost to me somewhat in the way our children in another era were lost because of immigration. He is somewhere far away, and I think of him 56 years later almost daily.

Sharon Near Seattle

coastalgosgal

bananasandoranges

Okie good point

trucker743

Lisa in AR, your mother is glamorous in the same way my mother was. That movie star look is unmistakable from the era. Your family looks like a fine upstanding bunch. Happy Mother's Day to you and really to anyone here who feels like a mother to someone, no matter how that came about.

Okie, my beloved basset, Sam, was a one of a kind character. That name brings back happy memories and much laughter from my pre-teen years on up through my early 20s.

Oh Allie! Those blessed moments of higher functioning ARE truly like a miracle. My husband and my brother both had a few days like this before leaving. I'm so happy that you and Tom both got to experience this!

Ginger in TX, I love the picture and the caption in your post! There are LOTS of days where I'll do what's needed and cuss the entire time.

NY Karen, I imagine you'll be truly relieved when the concert is finished. It's so nice that you have a group of real young musicians to work with. I wish I could hear it!

Oh Rori! Feasting on books and movies! Two of my favourite things. An upscale community near where I live had the first day of their annual 2-day garage sale today, and I stocked up on some of both!

I also found a large mesh and canvas 2-cat size carrier for in the car for my cats. My plan is to do some day rides with them to see how it goes and maybe bring them with me when I go camping again. Plus a lovely approximately 1-1/2x1" lidded wicker basket to hold books and magazines beside my reading chair. I have a magazine holder, but the silly things always manage to slither out and onto the ground. It's usually the National Geographic that leads the pack. I suspect being mailed gives it ideas.

That and a light pareau to wear to the pool and back were my best finds. That and a bunch of dvds I've wanted to watch and more books.

Today was the first day the pool was up to temperature, so I have a lovely hour swimming with my daughter and grandson. He swims like a real fish though he's only 6. He seems fascinated by the look of things underwater, and spends a great deal of time diving down to the 9' level (our deep end!) And looking around. Then he pops back up, throws another toy down there and does it all again.

I always love the idea that swimming burns calories even though I'm just paddling around, since I'm burning calories to keep warm as well. It did look funny today, though. My lower belly, since my weight loss surgery, has become an almost empty skin bag. The gals have list weight too. So there I am in the pool fighting the tendency of my bottom to float to the top, since it now contains the most fat. My daughter and I were having fits of giggles about it.

Sharon, Nearly Waterlogged, Near Seattle

KetoneKaren

klanders30 wrote: »

I’m happily home in bed after an intense work day. I met my festival orchestra (I experienced a good hour of strong unusually intense anxiety before hand). But turns out to be a truly wonderful group of kids—what a blessing—-responsive, musical, kind students. Tomorrow we have several rounds of rehearsals and then a 2:30 concert. I will be exhausted for sure. But I want to fit in exercise somehow tomorrow afterwards.

NYKAREN

___

NYKAREN Kudos on "carrying on", despite strong anxiety. You did a hard thing. I'm glad you had a rewarding experience with those kids. I'm of the opinion that directing multiple rehearsals and a concert should count as exercise. It certainly isn't sedentary activity. Just sayin'...

____________________

Allie What good news! You are right, the trazodone would definitely have caused your father-in-law to be out of it! So happy for you & him. He will have some good days now.

_____________________

Sharon I hope some day your son will be curious about his biological mother and seek you out. It is the most difficult, selfless, loving act to carry a baby to term and give him up for adoption. That was an amazing and poignant story, thank you for telling it. Your grandchildren sound terrific.

______________________

Rebecca That cat looks like your spirit animal. What a cute photo! Made me smile.

______________________

Karen in Virginia

DanaReel180

Good evening or morning!

Rori So sorry to hear about your injury. Sounds very painful! I hope you get on the mend soon.
I tore my Achilles’ tendon out hiking. It was so painful and I had to hike back up a steep incline. I would focus on a tree and make it to that point then the same thing over and over until I made it to my car. I had 6 weeks physical therapy.
And lots of ice!

An update on my daughter in Panama City: She rented a 2 bedroom house in Panama City Beach from a friend of hers. Her house is still under construction and who knows if and when it will be completed. The work is so slow there because everyone is in the same boat. But she’s doing fine with her regular yoga clients and also works at the Indian Motorcycle dealership too.

Katla Thanks for mentioning that you missed me! That made my day!

DH and I had a good day traveling over to Little Rock. We picked out a new sofa and a bed and mattress set for the 3rd bedroom. Now we’ll have 2 guest rooms when family comes! Hoping for grandkids again this summer!

My diet really sucked today. I ate refried beans like dip and tortilla chips for dinner. They were good and spicy! But I did stay within my goals! Yay!

Rebecca Those pantry doors look very confusing! Maybe they were hiding guns in there! LOL!
It looks like your getting settled!

Good bye for now!
Dana in green Arkansas

Some of my flowers and a page from my Bible Journaling class.

cmsavells

Heather-I lost a baby years ago, my only pregnancy. It was horrific. Years later, I opted to pursue adoption. I had just started my home study when my dad died. My social worker made me withdraw my application. I was so excited because China had begun to limit adoptions to single parents. Withdrawing my application was like another death. Six months later I applied with a different agency. Fourteen months later I brought home my beautiful Hannah!

Sharon-my friend did DNA analysis through ancestry.com and she has found several members of her birth family. My cousin did it too and found a half sister. It’s certainly something to consider.

Ginger-I’ve felt overwhelmed lately too. I spent all of autumn helping my aunt and uncle. I’ve taken care of my mom since February. I really thought I was doing MFP and getting healthy for me. Yes, it’s helping me physically, but I’m crazy lonely emotionally. I’m meeting with a friend Sunday and I really hope it helps.

Connie in KY

coastalgosgal

Karen in Virginia, I wish he was my spirit animal! So regal, kinda grumpy, but in a stately.way!
💖Rebecca

coastalgosgal

My son's many Lego trips from our old place to our new place. Driving his van very slowly!
( Just around the corner thank goodness!)
💖Rebecca

grogers511

📙Accountability post for Friday, May 10th
✔1. Carbs 50g max with no more than 25g per meal. (39g)
✔2. Fiber 25g. (28g)
✔️3. Track in MFP. Complete the entry daily.
✖️4. Exercise - log 30 Fitbit minutes (9 Active minutes).
✖️5. No eating after 9pm.
✖️6. In bed by midnight.

• Overall Feeling. Fat, Tired, Frustrated.
• Exercise. No intentional exercise. I got 2800 steps and 9 active minutes.
• Eating deadline. Nope. My whole day was shifted late. (I didn’t sleep last night from a night of loud thunder and lots more rain.) Ate at 5:30pm and 9:30pm.
• Bedtime-Sleep Hygiene. Nope. Too much thunder.
• Bright Spot today. Pleased with my hair salon appointment. Just a wash, cut, style. Best hairstylist ever, But, the therapy i get sitting in Deb’s chair is worth double the cost of the haircut. Deb has been my stylist for 25+ years. Today i gave her a nice tip and said “Thanks fir the therapy!” She said “No problem. I’m sure I’ll fill your ear next time.” She cuts/styles Mom’s hair too. Mom won’t let anyone else do it. And Mom was a hair stylist herself once upon a time.
• Today I’m grateful for:
1. A dry day. More rain coming Saturday.
2. My habit of keeping my purse and car clean and ready to go. I’m often running late.no time to stop for gas. And, I know the exact contents of my small cross-body purse and where each item is located.
3. My husband for helping me with the carpet cleaner today. He emptied the extraction tank several times for me.
4. Mama’s humming. At the moment it’s 2:15am. She can’t sleep. And often when she can’t - i can’t. We’re sitting at the kitchen table. She’s working with quilt block pieces. Laying out the pieces to decide which combinations she likes best. She’s humming loudly. (She’s 92 and hard of hearing and totally unaware of her humming.) it’s like her engine is running. HUH-um-uh. HUH-um—uh. Ha-ummmm-umm-umm-uh. Sometimes when I’m really tired - the hum can annoy me. But, the other 99% of the time... it means she’s still here with me. And, i feel so grateful and blessed.
5. Manzanilla olives. Because they are like little delightful treasures in my salad.

-- Ginger in Texas

grogers511

• KJ Kelly I can’t imagine life without my sibs. Mom had 11 sibs. All gone now. Her 7 sisters were her best friends, she says she feels like they’ve all run off and left her behind. I told her someone had to stay behind and make sure all the kids acted right. (Family joke. When we teenagers would be too rowdy and not settle down to sleep in our tent during camp outs... Mom just got in the tent with us. Now... settle down.) And, she’s always been a favorite aunt of many of my cousins. Dad had 8 siblings. They’re all gone now also. Though Dad isn’t totally aware that he’s the last survivor of his original nucleus family.
• Bananas Julie This amount of rain isn’t really common for Texas in general. It just “feels” like it is lately. We had a front come through and settle over our region, creating a lot of thunderstorms and rain. But, we ARE in hurricane season here. I’m in the Gulf Coast region - so when conditions are right - we get rain storms coming off the Gulf. Just praying we don’t get a hurricane, The rain has caused lots of flooding. I’m thankful to be retired and no longer battling rain and traffic across that 40 mile commute.
• Trucker Sharon My little fairy light. It’s such a delight. I’m attaching a pic. I should include a pic of it in daylight also. But, it’s night time and the lamp on the table won’t work for me. Switch knob is stripped. And, i find myself cussing quite a bit lately. A sure sign that i need a break. Sibs coming Sunday to visit and they’ll pitch in and help me with a few tasks. I live a good distance 40-50. Ike’s from them all. So it’s special when we can get together.
• Connie KY I’m struggling with weight. I’ll do well then have s little binge. Really need to talk to DH about keeping the sugary junk limited. He goes overboard with cookies, cake, donuts, ice cream - making this a target rich environment. And, i need to get my head in the game and cook more for myself. He’s just not consistent. But, once i get on track - he is usually very supportive and helpful. He’s just getting mixed signals from me. And, I’ve let a few time sensitive tasks pile up with my procrastination. So I’m feeling the pressure. So... I’m taking timeouts to breathe. And, I’ve got ridiculously detailed steps-by-step lists for these tasks. Like: open laptop, power on, open file, save it with new name, change dates and save, change officers and save, etc. I’m halfway through my checklist on this family reunion newsletter. I’ll finish it tomorrow. My next big task is to prepare a protest of our real estate property valuation. The county increased the values by more than i think is fair. But, the whole protest process is so daunting. Ugh! And the deadline is May 15th.

—Ginger in Texas

Actually known as a Fairy Courting Lamp.
Indiana Tiara Honey Amber Glass Fairy Courting Candle Holder Lamp Light, 2 Piece Amber Tiara Candle Holder. Indiana Pressed Tiara Glass. From the 1970s. It’s a favorite of my treasures.

grandmallie

morning ladies~
I am up and having my tea... will get dressed and go to work in a bit...working until one and then my granddaughter staying overnight... which will be nice... my daughter and her husband going out with his brother to see a comedian at the casino... they dont go out much so I try and help out where I can...
My son stopped at work yesteday with a beautiful floral arrangement for me and a wonderful mothers day card..
so nice to get flowers from someone..
I hope you all enjoy your Mother's day xoxox.. even though it is tomorrow

LisaInAR

It's a rainy morning (again) in Arkansas... hope it's a good Saturday, past or future, for all.

Heather, experiences like yours are why I have always felt fortunate that, while I could not have children, I did not go through the miscarriages and stillbirths that so many of the women I've known dealt with. One woman I knew while I was in the military had 14 miscarriages before she was able to carry a child to full term. So much pain, and so much of it never gets shared. I'm glad your granddaughters are a balm to your wounded heart.

Sharon, thank you for your story as well. The Ancestry.com DNA tests have made quite a few of those connections for people, but I know that's a step that many take with trepidation. I love that picture of my mother, which was taken before she married my father, her fourth and final husband, and the abuser who made her life so hard. She lived the last 20 years of her life without a man in it, and I think they were the happiest years for her.

Ginger, I had to wrench myself away from making the incredibly detailed lists, like yours, and simply put down my main, end goals. I get mired into the act of making these step-by-step lists, and then they haunt me and push me into doing nothing because I can't do everything. By failing to excel at one step, I feel I've failed completely. It was such a relief for me when I stopped it. I still make lists--I have to keep up with so many deadlines at work, I'd be lost without them--but they just tell me when a grant is due, not all the steps to get there. I'm so glad you take such joy in your mother's presence in your life. It's truly a gift.

Allie, so glad you had time with your DFIL where he was so much more responsive. It is hard to watch them slide.

Egg's curled up on my lap, purring, which is a nice change from her being mad at me because it's raining outside, which she was five minutes ago!

The doc started me on some pretty stout antibiotics, even before the tests are accomplished. Lots of blood taken yesterday for testing, and more tests to go. I'll get word on when those are slated pretty soon, but she muttered something about IBD, which was no surprise. I appreciated the fact that she was a she, and not a he, and feel she listened to me, which is always a refreshing change and a pleasant surprise.

Love y'all,
Lisa in AR

cityjaneLondon

Sharon - what sadness about your first son. My DH found his twin sister through one of those registration organisations. He was around 48 then.
In this country the laws are the same about adoption, but over here you can employ a specially registered and licensed third party to do the research and to make approaches if the relative is found. You have to pay for that. We have a tv programme called "Long Lost Family" which often goes into all that. Of course, you have to be prepared for all and any eventuality. Sometimes it doesn't work out well, occasionally it does. I too would want to know, either way.

Connie - so sorry about your lost baby and the awful disappointment about the adoption. And so glad about Hannah!

My ex is currently visiting my younger son and family along with his youngest, Ben. They have flown down from Glasgow. I feel a bit sorry that I haven't been invited round for a coffee.

I'm curious to see him, but we always got on fine, so I feel a bit excluded. Silly, I know.

Tomorrow we are going to meet DH's older daughter and her boyfriend at a pub for lunch. It's 'dog friendly' to accommodate her dachshund. It's in the South Downs and there are lovely walks for afterwards. Weather should be good.

Much love to all, Heather UK xxxxxxx

klanders30

To all

NYKAREN