Miracle.. I'm down about 10 pounds!

OK, so I didn't start the new eating plan on Monday as intended. I did however, begin on Wednesday and when I weighed myself this morning I was down about 10 lbs! I say "about" because last week I weighed myself at the Dr's office and today I weighed myself on the scale at home. Either way, I'll take it! Chris is down 12 lbs. He thinks it is a combination of the diet and the lack of salt... This is a great motivator!!!! We may have found something that works for us.

More later, the worst side effect of this new eating plan is that I have had a headache since Wednesday... I'm sure I will adjust, eventually to the lack of refined foods and sugar and salt... Gonna go lie down. Don't know if I'll get any rest as the drywall people are here.

Progress is being made!

This weekend Kevin (our construction guy) is coming to put in Sheetrock! Yay. Walls that will go all the way to the floor. I guess I will have to get out of the house or work on the computer to stay out of his way...

I am in a puppy quandary. A friend at work has some adorable little half Shihtsu half Chihuahua puppies and I am thinking of taking a little male. Chris said it was OK if he gets along with Haas, but I am not so sure. I think I may take him home for a night or two (the weekend maybe) and see if he fits in. If not there is another person on staff that will take him. Maybe having a puppy for a few days will be enough and I'll be over it.

We started our new eating plan this week. Chris was home last night and this morning and got me started today. Interestingly enough, I got him ready for the plan and didn't get myself ready! The hardest part may be not being able to have cream with my coffee, not even fat free!

I went on a big Field Trip with my kids to see a concert last night and it was fun and interesting for a few reasons. The littler kids are certain that I know them because they know me. By this I mean that I've taken my class to read to them and we've done presentations and plays, which I always introduce, so they think I know them. Unfortunately I don't know their names and a few kids were upset by that fact. Also, on this trip I saw Mary Allums, the wife of our band director. I hadn't really spoken to her since last year when we worked together. I had, however said HI. Anyway, she didn't recognize me and came up to be sure it was me. I am not as conscious of the changes since I live in this body every day, but she said I was beautiful. Nice compliment. Seems she had said "Hi" all those times and not known I was me!

It looks like my mom might actually move here to Galveston in the near future! She is trying to get out from under her condo in Bradenton where she is "underwater." I have been trying to get her here since before the hurricane... Plans just kept changing. Chris and I both enjoy having her around, so I'm looking forward to it.

The End of Spring Break

Tonight Chris, Donna, Michael and I went to dinner at the Red Onion Cafe and had a wonderful time and a great meal. Every time we spend time together with them I enjoy myself more. They are terrific people.

Earlier today I took a practice test to find out how the certification test for 8-12 English Language Arts will go for me. I did really well! Depending on how it is averaged, I scored an 87% or an 89% on the test portion. The "essay" won't be graded for a while... I was pleased and shocked since I did NO studying. I do have a liberal arts degree and am teaching ELA every day, so I guess I'm not quite going in blind. This morning, Chris and I went shopping to Whole Foods and got some supplies for a new eating plan we begin on Monday.

Other things accomplished this week:
*Got a manicure and pedicure - green nails! Yes, on purpose.
*Soaked in a hot tub
*Lolled around in bed - in a hotel room! Many naps were had.
*Spent time with my husband
*Saw the doctor for a physical - Yes, blood work and everything
*Completed my supply orders for school. I have 3 separate budgets!!! I have 3 separate departments, theatre, reading and Language arts. It is not easy to figure out which one should pay for the drawing paper or the pipe cleaners
* began reading American Pastoralwhich has been on my list for a VERY long time.
*got a massage
*got new stairs - OK I didn't really do this...

The basics from my Drs appointment is that my ankle is still swelling regularly and it hurts. Sometime I can't sleep because it bothers me so much. Dr. Weaver gave me some muscle relaxers and I am to wear my brace for a while. We hope that does it.

I had a funny experience this week. I ran into a student of mine who I was rather close to last year and he didn't recognize me! It wasn't until much later when I realized that I was out of context and I had hair, dark curly hair. How would he have recognized me? The teacher he had was bald and sickly. I NO LONGER LOOK THE SAME!!

So here's the story...

Here's the story of the "collateral" vein...

I felt a swelling over my right collarbone and it was there for a few days. Right over the collarbone, so I know it couldn't be a muscle(or knot in a muscle.) I would go on but I'm boring myself... Short version: I'm fine.

We just had the front steps rebuilt and they have torn out the back steps. Progress is being made. We may actually have the house back to normal at some point this summer! I'm not too picky, but I'd like to have drywall, heck WALLS, that go all the way to the floor. Our heating bill has been outrageous and it will be hot soon. I'm not enjoying the bugs or the dust either.

Chris is home for the night, since he has a doctor's appointment tomorrow. I plan to go back to Houston with him and play tourist for a few days, enjoying the hotel and pool. Depending on how my leg feels I may do some museums. Hey, it's spring break!

It's collateral

So, I went and had the "swelling" over my collarbone checked out and after a bit of a runaround I am fine. The ultrasound showed it was just a "collateral" vein, which is my body re-routing the blood vessels to compensate for the surgery and blood clots. More details later, but I'm REALLY relieved.