LW: 131.2
TW: 130.4

Sorry to be so late logging in. Today has been a hectic day. I've been getting financial records together the past couple of days and ran into myriad issues, including losing one folder of some important emails and spending 3 hours trying every possible fix before giving up. Tomorrow I am having that molar extracted and I'm certainly not looking forward to that. And today, I found holes in some of my clothing, so it appears that I also have moths in my closet! Honestly, ladies, it has been one thing after the other for more than a month now. But I know that in the scheme of things, these are not serious problems.

Yikes! Just looked at the clock, and I need to run a couple of errands before it gets too late. So I'll be back either later tonight or once I'm functional after the dental visit tomorrow to chat more and share my stats. It is pouring rain here today, so I want to get out and back in before too late.

Sheesh, I know you'll be back where you were very soon. You've had a significant life event and it's hard to control intake or activity in those circumstances.

Lois, I hope you are doing okay in the midst of all you are handling. Kelly, I'm looking forward to hearing from you and hope things are going okay up your way.

Kelly, your email cheered me up. I am so glad that you are taking time for yourself and reaping the results of feeling so much better. Keep it up! And congratulations to your daughter and son for their athletic achievements. Sports help them healthy and also teaches them so much about working in a team, and both will help them throughout their lives.

I haven't had a chance to check my email again to see if that lost folder is in archives, but will do so and let you know. Thanks. It was my Charles Schwab folder, so I hate to have those e-doc missing.

The big news is that I had that molar taken out today, and it was not easy. The doc said it was one of the most difficult to get out that he's ever seen. He also could not get the crown off--it was tough, too--and eventually, he had to cut that off. I had so many lidocaine shots, I felt no pain, but the pressure was terrible and it bothered the joints in my jaw. However, eventually it came out and he said my timing was good. I had a little bone loss, and if not, he said he might never have gotten it out of there. But the loss was just a little and so he thinks that I have enough so the implant will go well, once we can do that part. And although I was not feeling pain yet, he saw the beginnings of infection and said that he felt sure I would have had an abscess develop within a month or so. So he was able to take care of that today. I'm beginning to feel pain as the numbing wears off, but I hope I can manage it with advil and tylenol. If not, I have a stronger pain med prescription in my back pocket, so to speak. Regardless of the pain med that I end up with, I have to take a antibiotic and there's a special mouthwash. The latter may temporarily stain the teeth, so I'm not so happy about that!

But enough about my dental woes. My dentist and the implant specialist both said that today would be the worst of it, and I'm still kicking. In fact the implant specialist said, "Hearing your soft voice and southern accent, I first thought you were a demure person, but I know now that you are one tough lady!"

I cannot walk today he said, and of course, eating will be different for a while, so I guess survival is my main goal for this week. My 7-day average stats for last week were not as good as the week before:

Kcals burned = 1,741
Steps = 12,556
Stairs = 12 flights

This is only enough to keep me in the 129.6 to131-.6 range, so something must change. How long have I been saying this? My shoulder and upper back pain are doing better, so I do plan to add back more weights. I did arm exercises with 2-pound weights two days last week, but I was barely sore, so I know I'm not pushing myself enough. Hey--maybe if my arms and back are sore, I won't notice my mouth pain (as Lois, would say, bwah-ha-ha!!)

Lois, I'm glad to see your post. Sometimes riding the wave is what we can and need to do. I will continue to send good energy your way.

This is an odd kind of day for me. Yesterday, it was warm enough to go out without a jacket. Today, the snow is pouring down and the wind is whipping! So I'm not walking with my walking buddy because the plows have not been in any residential areas yet and she goes to work at 3 p.m. (I think they expect the snow on paved surfaces to melt once it stops because they still holding the warmth from the past few days.)

It's probably just as well as I have little energy today. The extraction site is doing well, but now something is going on with a front tooth. It's not pain, it just feels different. I first noticed it about a week ago and had my dentist take a quick look and an x-ray. She did not see anything, which I guess is good, but something is definitely different. And I am feeling very nervous because I was told that sometimes when you fall and hit your face and mouth, the effects do not appear immediately. And while I can deal with missing a molar for a few months, I am person who shows a lot of upper front teeth, and I don't think I can deal with something major going down with those. The dentist thinks I may be grinding my teeth in my sleep, but she can't do a mouth guard until the new implant is in place. So at 3:30 this morning, I woke up aware of that tooth and my head started going through all the "what ifs." I finally went downstairs so I wouldn't wake hubby, and I think I got a total of about 4 hours sleep. And we lose an hour's sleep tonight as we go on Daylight Saving Time. Arghhhhh So pray this is nothing serious, since I have neither the money or the moxie to deal with anything else.

I also had a shock when I stepped on the scale this morning. Yesterday, I was 129.6. Today, I am up to 131.6. And my actual kcals yesterday were 1,249, and I walked more than 12,000 steps. Go figure.

Well, I will quit worrying and bellyaching, but it's nice to know that you ladies allow me to do that. Sometimes just putting it down helps. I hope that Saturday treats you all well.

Lois - I've been thinking of you lots. I can imagine it would be difficult to figure out life at the moment. Just know you're in my thoughts.

Sarah - Hopefully you have managed to get some better sleep over these past few days! I know how much lack of sleep can affect everything, including weight. Hopefully your front teeth have calmed down too.

Sheesh - With everything you guys had going on recently, I'm sure it must be great to have a trip to look forward to! I hope you had a good session with your trainer.

All is mostly good here. I'm still doing well with the exercising and eating and it's finally starting to get nice outside, although I can even imagine how long it'll take for this snow to melt.