Kanga gets new glasses.

Think of the cars from the movies Cars. Their eyeballs were their windshield. 

Yeah, KANGA , my 98 Subaru Legacy a Outback had a crack from one eye to the other. 

So, we called the insurance agent and she had optical coverage. 

Today, the doctor made a house call. 

Then I took off the bandages

She just needs a bath and will be better than ever. 

Week 7

My weigh in this morning was 271.7 that is a loss of 43.3 lbs so far. 

Wow, just to think that I have almost lost 50 lbs in 9 weeks (counting the preop diet). That is an average of 4.8 lbs a week. I think I like the steadiness of 2 lbs per week as I know the first couple of weeks were water and my body adjusting. 

Foods: 

I have increased the types of foods I am eating and also the amount. Dense food make me fuller, faster, so this makes getting my protein in harder. I have been able to do both liquids at 64oz and protein at or above 60g for 2 days now. 

I did have my first dumping episode the other day. I tried having a few Fritos with my refried beans and salsa. This was not pleasant. I got the sick feeling in my tummy but never threw up more than slime. I felt clammy and had shakes. This turned into tummy cramps and I had to go lie down. I will not be trying that again, or any bread- chip- carbs, for a while. 

Protein first, vegetables second, carbs last. This is what the nutritionalist and doctor recommends. I will try to only get carbs from the vegetables I eat for a while longer. 

Baked pepperoni chips: these are the bomb for crunch!!

1 Pkg low sodium turkey pepperoni

Lay in single later on baking sheet

Bake at 350 for 15 minutes

Cool on paper towels to absorb grease (pat a few times with another paper towel. 

Not sure how long they last but 16 pieces is 70 calories and 9g protein. 

Liquids: 

Water- I still don't like plain water, but I am learning. 

Decaf coffee- this is my go to in the morning and night. I picked up some sugar free syrups from world market. 

Regular coffee- I missed regular coffee. I asked the nutritionalist if I could have it again. 1 cup as long as I drink 1.5 cups of water. Well, I tried it. I got the caffeine buzz. Then I got the caffeine crash. I swear it lasted more than a day. I just couldn't find energy. So, lots of water to flush the system and my energy is back. I'm sticking with decaf for a bit longer. 

Decaf tea- decaf black tea, not a huge fan. Decaf Constant comment, Egyptian licorice or licorice mint OMG yum! No sugar necessary. 

SF Alpine Hot apple cider- I love this drink! 

SF hot  chocolate- I add this to my decaf coffee once in a while. 

Exercise:

I am walking a mile to a mile and a quarter 6 days a week on the treadmill in the morning. I also try to walk outside in the afternoon weather permitting. Monday was beautiful and I walked the boardwalk here in GH. 

I did not walk the pier  because I don't feel secure enough on my knee to do that yet. However, this was an accomplishment because I had never walked from one end of the boardwalk to the other and back before.  I did take my knitting and sit at the end for a bit.

 

It is also the first time I have hit 10k steps since getting my Fitbit. My ankle was a bit sore after but I felt accomplished. I think I need to get new tennis runners. Maybe ones made for walking. 

Today a new addition to my fitness routine showed up. The ladies at Knittin'in the Mitten chipped in to help me get a Weider ultimate body works machine. It's like a Total gym but I liked the reviews on this better and it was 1/2 the cost. 

I look forward to getting it set up and in use soon. 

I also have Dumbbells I use for exercises I was given and have asked Boo if I could borrow one of her exercise balls. Soon. 

Non- Scale Victories:

I can cross my legs. 

I can curl up in the chair. 

I had to buy smaller undies because the old ones were falling off. 

I bought a pair of fleece lined leggings and they fit. 

I walked the boardwalk.

I did 10k steps in one day

Just me:

I'm happy. I am learning to like myself instead of ignoring myself. I do not react well to negativity or judgements. I have been told I am a bit mood swingy. I'm relearning what it is to want to live. Give me time, I will be me, just a whole new me, once again. 

A necessary vent

I do love my friends and try not to upset them, I guess a few do not have the same feeling towards me. I have talked about letting go and taking the negative out of my life. A few things have been bothering me and I am using this space to talk about it. 

When did friendship become a competition? 

I am a bit confused. I am not the type of friend who is in competition with anyone I know. If playing a game, I will compete but in life, we are all equals and each just trying to survive the best way we know how. 

I did not have gastric bypass because I wanted to lose more weight than you on a diet. I had gastric bypass because I was morbidly obese and was losing the will to live. I found a spark and now want to live again. I am proud to be your friend, I will support you in your endeavor to exercise and lose weight as well, but please do not compete with me. I am out of the race. I do what I have to do for me. I do not feel that I have to exercise 8x a day in order to get fit. My doctor has me on a balance of exercise and healthy eating that is exactly what I need. If you are not my doctor or my husband, please do not advise me on what I should be doing.  Yes, this has upset me and I know I would blow my top if I actually told you this in person. 

Another thing-

A different friend- 

When did friendship become tit for tat? 

Friends do not keep track of who called last or who paid for the last cup of coffee you shared. In the last 5 years, my health went down hill and I have begun to slowly crawl out of the 6ft deep hole I had been digging. When I see you in public and say we should get together, telling me I stood you up is not the answer I expected. Why did I not show up? Was I going through something that you were too self absorbed to notice? No, a real friend says sure, would Thursday for coffee work for you? 

Maybe I am old school, but I don't think there is a time limit on a friend date and we should just be thankful we have someone we can call a friend. 

Thank you my friends

After news I received tonight, I thought about what to post on here.
My online friendships are so much more than just online friendships. I think anyone who reads this blog will understand what I mean by that.
In 1996 this poem came out on the inter-webs:

Friends without Faces...
We sit and we type, and we stare at our screensWe can't help but wonder what all of this means.With mouse in hand ...we roam through this maze,On an infinite search...lost in a daze.
We chat with each other, we type all our woesAt times we'll band together to gang up on our foes.We wait for somebody, to type out our nameWe want recognition, but it is always the same.
Soon friendships are formed - but - why we don't know,But some of these friendships, will flourish and grow.We give kisses and hugs, and sometimes we'll flirt,In IMs we chat deeply, and reveal why we hurt.
Why is it on screen, we are so easily bold,Telling our secrets, that have never been told.The answer is simple, it is as clear as a bell,We all have our problems, and need someone to tell.
We can't tell real people, but tell someone we mustSo we turn to our 'puters ...and to those we can trust.Even though it sounds crazy...the truth still remains, Most of my "friends" have no faces...and odd little names.
by Rusty Black
Today, we have web cams, skype, Google+ and so much more than IM's, but we still don't know the stories behind every Internet name we come across.
I am blessed to have each of you in my life.
Thank you.

Junk shopping and a cheap foodie weekend

Lorrie came over for the weekend. I miss her and we agreed we need to get together more often.

While she was here, we played!
Saturday started with Waffle muffins!





Banana nut!



Then we headed off to do some errands.

We saw a Flea Market along the side of the road and we had to stop. I bought a rack that I will hang shawls on and a cabinet for my bathroom. Yes! Finally somewhere to store my towels! I know, I get excited over the little things. After that, we headed down to New Holland Brewery to meet Lori for lunch. Yum! Reuben's all around.

We then hit a few junk stores.

As some of you know, I call Sarge my "Knight in scuffy combat boots" well, outside one store, we saw a suit of armor. No combat boots. I checked, no balls either!

Yep sent this picture to Sarge, he got a charge out of it.



Then we went to Hobby Lobby where I found the cutest little balls of yarn



Which I plan to make up into mug rugs. They are 38 yards each.

After that, what was there to do but stop and get drinks and the makings for Waffle Brownie's with Ice cream (Diet be damned!) When it was cooked up in the waffle maker, we split it in half, Topped it with ice cream, peanuts, chocolate sauce and whipped cream.



 Went down well with Margaritas and Scrumpy's--YUM!

On Sunday we woke up and relaxed. Coffee and crafting!

I played with my new mini loom. I never had one as a kid.



New cotton hot pads *grin*

While Lorrie knitted booties.

I also introduced Lorrie to the world of Roku. Yep. It's worth getting the box.

About 3ish she had to head back to her side of the Mitten.

Good thing I get to see her again at Northern Michigan Lamb & Wool in two weeks!!!

Crap room to Craft room - take 2

The cleaning of my crap room probably would not have happened this year if it were not for Knittin' in the Mitten coming up. I am getting donations and I need a spot to put them.
These last 3 months since Sarge left, I have been going places and doing things, but when I get home the pretty yummy stuff I purchased, just got thrown in the crap room with intentions of cleaning it and sorting later. Well, This weekend is later and here is what happened:
(not the best photos, taken with my iTouch, but it was what I had handy)

Everything pulled off the floor of the crap room and brought out to the living room. (Note: this does not include all my fiber that is already sorted in the craft cubes.)



I sorted everything by fiber size and style.



Pulled out all my WIPs (work in progress) and PIGS (projects in grocery sacks)



Then sorted the fiber into the correct cubes in the CRAFT room.



CRAP room to CRAFT room is almost complete. I still need to sort the desk out.

Either I need to knit, crochet and spin faster or I need to stop making purchases for a while.

Catching up

August always seems to be a busy month for us here at Casa Coggie. This year was no exception.
I left on the 8th for Schaumburg, IL, north of Chicago, for Stitches Midwest. This is a convention for people who play with yarn and fiber. I went over on the Lake Express Ferry which made traveling easy. 30 minutes from home, I boarded the boat and then only had a 90 minute drive down to the hotel.
Here is my flickr set.
It was a wonderful, fun filled weekend among people who talked my language.
When the show was over, before I headed home, I took a trip to Ikea for the first time. I bought just a few items, I want to go back and buy more!
Main purchases were two more lamb skin rugs and two end tables for the living room.

Then on Friday I headed over to Midland, MI for a friends wedding.We had the rehearsal and dinner on Friday night before setting up the reception hall. Then on Saturday, the wedding was at 3pm. The weather was perfect for an outdoor wedding. I was the "Best man by proxy" so I was not able to get a lot of photos.  Flickr set here I wish the couple many years of happiness together.
On Sunday I headed home and just lazed around all day Monday.
I am happy to be home and ready for a few weeks of not going anywhere!

Scales

I woke up this morning with a clear head. My first thought was that I have become the worst thing I could imagine, a Dependasaurus.

What is that you ask? Well that is what the spouse of a deployed soldier that needs that other person to function is called. I have become dependent. I wait for the email at night or look first thing in the morning to see if they are online. I need to talk over stuff with him in order to make a decision. When I don't get to talk with him, I do nothing. Not a good way to live, but that has been what the last 2 months has been like here. PJ days are too easy to have and my house has become a shambles because of it. As I had my coffee this morning, I took a long look at my house, my actions and my life and just did not like what I saw. I have become the opposite of out of control. I have become lazy and uncaring about the house, my appearance and have a lack of wanting to really do anything.

I guess the first step is admitting you have become a Dependasaurus, now how do I shed my scales and become independasaurus?

Last week, I was sent a swap package and in that package were some To do Lists. I have listed the large and small tasks from the house down. I am giving myself a month to get the house and hopefully myself, whipped into shape. I have papers that need to be gone through, clutter that needs to be eliminated and cleaning that has to be done. I need to get up every morning, get dressed (yes that has become a problem) and get busy. I need to take pride in having a clean house and having an organized life. I know there will be days that I will be able to talk to sarge, but I need to do more than just function on days I am not able to.

After I have cleaned the house to my fullest, I want to hire a steam cleaning company to come do the floors and maybe Merry Maids to give the house a deep clean.

I need to do more than survive while Sarge is gone, I need to live. I need to show him that the reason he is overseas is so that we can live normal happy lives and me falling into the not normal range is not what he needs to hear about. I will try to post my progress of the descaling.

Mr. & Mrs. Bear

On the 28th of April, I gained a daughter.





Welcome to the Family Mrs. Bear!!

Clean Air

I have a new favorite air freshener. I took the rind of one orange and poured white vinegar over it in a seal-able container. I set it in the fridge for a week. Then I rinsed out an old febreze bottle. Filled it 1/2 way with cold water and the rest with the orange vinegar. I then used it as I would febreze. It smells so good! Took the yucky smell out of my house and left a clean citrus smell instead. I refilled the orange rind container to use again in a couple of weeks.

Fun times at Gramma's

Yesterday my son showed up for a quick visit. He brought with him the grandkids. I do love impromptu gramma time.
Little miss Z discovered that my foot-stools fit her perfectly


Yep perfect for hide-n-seek!
And LittleBear is crawling now- just a going concern.

They are growing up so fast!!

Visitor?

This was a refelction of light through our side window onto a picture frame onto our hallway wall. We noticed it while cleaning today. Other than a dirty wall, what do you see in these pictures?







Kind of different!
Please leave a comment.

Grand Rapids Food Weekend

We stayed at the JW Marriott

12th floor

the room




View during a snow storm



Loved the bathroom!




Outside



Waiting on Dinner












That was Friday night.
Saturday went spent the day at a military event getting all the new info we need for the coming year. After we were dismissed we napped for a bit then headed out for dinner. We were told that Z's was the place in the area for "Good food and relaxing"
Sarge had

He loved it!
I had

They were touted as "The best ribs in town" yeah- well, after one bit I could not eat them. I did not complain, just didn't eat. The owner did comp my meal. How they are called the best I have no idea!! The service was wonderful and the Pineapple juice with Southern comfort that I had was amazing!
We went back to Six-One-Six for my meal


I am not a Blue Cheese lover, it was good but not my favorite thing there.
I ordered the Six-One-Six Burger

For dessert we shared a

We will be returning to this restaurant.
The storm passed and we headed home on Sunday