Another post.

 Along with the stress from the last few weeks with my sister I have had stress from my youngest son. If you are a long time reader you’ll know he was my “troublesome” one. After a lot of years of drug abuse, the death of his brother and 2 grandmothers in the space of 8 months sent him well and truly off the rails. He ended up going to goal for 7 months ( in a remand centre) where he managed to get off drugs. It’s been 7 years since he recovered and he managed to turn his life around, get a full time job, buy a 4 wheel drive and live drug free. Well this last month or so he has caught up with a friend from school who has come back to town. This friend is a big drinker and my son has followed suit. He is spending sooooo much money. The last 4 weeks, his pays have just disappeared and he’s been borrowing on his savings so much so that he has only $100 left out of over a $1000. I’m pretty sure he is not doing drugs again, I’m not religious but I’m praying not. He is hardly home, he’s tired and very moody and if we say anything he shrugs his shoulders and ignores us telling us he knows what he’s doing. I’m scared, really scared. I can’t live with a addict again…I just can’t. I know he’s over 40 and should know what’s he’s doing but he doesn’t. 

I’d hate to see him throw his life away again, especially as he has worked so hard to regain it. 

Now on a happier note. On Saturday night my sister in law threw a surprise party for my brother for his 75th birthday. 

What a lovely night it was. Lorraine was so happy that she managed to keep it a surprise. He was so shocked and surprised to see us all. Only about 40 people were invited which was deliberate as with his dementia too many people would have been overwhelming. It is his birthday today and on speaking to him earlier he still in a bit of a shock with the surprise. Glad he was able to remember it. I bet he doesn’t remember my birthday on Thursday though. 

Anyways, despite all, I managed to lose 500g this week. Still trying to get back down, slow and steady I guess. 

I’m back…

 I’m back….just here to update for myself. Not many people follow blogs anymore do they? Actually I have considered not blogging anymore as not many visit here but I do like to keep a record of a few things and this place is great for that. 

Anyways, weight has been up and down, just like a yo-yo, up some grams, down some grams just not getting anywhere. I was getting disheartened but I hadn’t given in. 

Then on the 17th January, I had just finished packing up my car as I intended to leave early next morning for a weekend away at my sisters, when the phone rang and my brother in law told me my sister had had a cardiac arrest and would be transported by ambulance to my local hospital. My sister has had a little trouble with her heart going out of rhythm previously but on Friday evening her heart just would not go back into rhythm and she actually died for a few minutes, twice!!  

Anyways my brother in law asked me to go into the hospital Saturday morning and sit with her till he and their younger son got there. 

 

This is what I saw when I first walked in. It scared the be-jesus out of me. They had her in an induced coma and there were tubes and machines blipping everywhere. I just sat down and held her hand and I’m sure she knew I was there as her eyes blinked and her hand squeezed mine. I just couldn’t stop my eyes from tearing up. 

Anyways I stopped with her till her hubby and son arrived later in the afternoon.

They took her out of the coma the next day and with physio she was soon up and walking around with her heart monitor. She was then transferred to a heart specialist in Perth where she had a ICD ( implantable cardioverter defibrillator) fitted. It will monitor her heart’s electrical activity and send electrical impulses to correct abnormal rhythms. Had that fitted one day and home the next.

Sis is still coming to terms with all that happened. Fortunately she can’t remember what happened, though she knows how hard the Drs at her local hospital worked on her as she has a fractured sternum and few broken ribs from the CPR.  For a few days after she came out of the coma she had a very poor memory but thankfully now that has too improved.

Below is on Saturday night. I drove down and spent the weekend with her. It was so good to see her looking so good. At night out at the speedway was good therapy for us pair of rev heads. 

This morning weigh in I lost over a kilo, the best loss I’ve had in weeks. But still it’s a long way down to where I was. A Dr visit tomorrow, I’m asking for bloods to be checked for a few things too. 

Till I visit again…..

A good week..

 

No New Year resolutions this year, every time I try I end up trying too hard and end up failing. Then I tend to throw my hands in the air and say F@rk it !! WW has a new program, one very similar to another one that I did well on. This last week I have found it so easy and I’m quite enjoying it. Scales this morning showed me a kilo off so I’m doing something right. Now to carry on carrying on WITHOUT too many over indulgences. My surgeon doing my Dupuytren’s Contracture has said he’d like to see me 5 kilos lighter at the end of April for my surgery. That’s over 3 months away so I think it’s totally doable. I’ll be trying my best and hopefully I can do it. 

Nothing exciting this last week in the world of Jen. At the moment sitting inside under the air conditioning as it’s a bit hot outside.  Counting down for my eye appointment in 2 weeks, hopefully will get date for cataract surgery. 

I’ve rung my sister today to wish her Happy Birthday 🎂🥳🎉. She is 4 years younger than me. I can remember the day  my mother came home with her. My 2 brothers were besotted and I hated that, i was so jealous. I was used to being the only girl and being doted on. Up to she reached the age of 12/13 years there was a lot of squabbles and sibling rivalry then it just changed. I matured as did she and we became close and still are. 

Going down to hers in 2 weeks to spend a couple of nights with her and just have some sister time. 

Right, I’m out of here. Down a worker tonight so muggins me is doing the shift. 

Bring on 2025

 Well the New Year is nearly here and it’s time for me to pull up my big girl panties and lose some weight. It’s now 25 months since I bit the bullet and rejoined WW. 

This pic in the dress was one of the ones from when I started, the other is about where I am now. All up with WW this time I’ve lost 17 kilos’s but since June of this holiday (when we went on holidays) I have done nothing but yo-yo to the extent that as of this mornings weigh in I have regained 7 kilos. Christmas and chocolates and overeating all the yummies didn’t help. 

My biggest problem was I STOPPED TRACKING. I had a journal BUT I was not tracking the points of my food. I need to do that, I have always needed too. I enjoyed the break from the tracking but today I started again. Already I’ve realised how I managed to regain. I’ve consumed all my points already and I still have dinner to add 😏🤨🤪 That will be a 0 point meal 😘

So today is day 1. (Wonder how many day 1’s I’ve had over the years of ww’ing?). I’ve walked 45 minutes. That I do most days and it’s just as well I kept that up otherwise I think the gain could have been a lot more. 

Big year coming up. Eye operations. Hand operations. Hopefully a holiday too. Won’t be a big one but do have something we want to do if we can fit it in between the operations. Will get a date for the cataract in middle January then we can possibly plan it. 

Had the best Christmas Day. We had open house. First up Kylee arrived with the kids…that’s the best part as they believe in Santa. Then niece and nephew and their families arrived for a visit. Then Simon and Tammy arrived, followed by Kylee’s girlfriend Jess and her kids. Then to top off the day our late son’s 3 kids arrived for a visit. It was wonderful. Lots of happy moments and memories. 

Bring on the new year, I am hoping it’s a good one. 🤞🏻🤞🏻

Monday again.

 Monday again…..but no weigh in. You know what that means ehhh 😘.      Yep, I have been indulging. Not counting points or calories, just been eating. Yep, the scales will be up…..BUT at this point in time I just don’t care. I will deal with the consequences after Christmas. 

Kids are back from their Dads and we are counting down to Christmas Day, the kids especially Summer are getting excited.  

I’m ready, gifts are all wrapped, most are under the tree. Most of the food has been bought. Just fruit and some veg, whipping cream and a few bits and pieces to buy and I’m done. I’m working in the morning so I will get them then. I’ve got the kids after work while Kylee does a shift and planning to take them to the movies to see Moana 2. 

Anyways till next time…..

Weigh in day

Right….first up my grandies and why you mostly only see the little ones. 

I have a blended family. Both hubby and I had been married before, and been together now nearly 44 years. He had a son Paul and a daughter Rosemary, and I had Simon ( they were 10, 7 and 6 when we got together) and then we had Shawn and Kylee. They all grew up together and were very close.

Anyhow Paul’s kids, after he passed away we don’t see a lot of them at all. Busy with their mother’s side of the family, work and friends. They have grown so much since Paul died. Caitlin is 22, Ashlee 20 and Matthew 16. His eldest Luke is 28 and lives in Perth. 

Simons kids since the very nasty breakdown of his marriage we don’t see much of at all either.  The eldest 2 girls sided with their mother after their breakup and they don’t have anything to do with their Dad, but the 2 boys do. They stay in touch with us too and visit occasionally. Boys are 18 and 19. Girls 21 and 22. 

Shawn lives with us as does his eldest daughter Skye. I see the others except the youngest who still lives with his foster mother. Jaydene, Shawn’s 2nd born has just graduated high school and is the mother of my only great grandchild Jahzara. Shayden (3rd child) is still at school and lives with his mum. 

And Kylee as you know has the 2 little ones. 

Yeah…..the Waltons we are not!! 

Families can be complicated. 

Saw my surgeon re my hands and the Dupuyten’s Contracture. He’s going to my left hand which is the worst on April 29th next year, the earliest I can be done. It’s a day surgery. 

Weigh in day. 400g loss.

I’m happy with that after the horror week I had a fortnight ago. This last week I’ve stuck to plan and I feel better for it. 

Below is William after they came runner up in the soccer grand final. It was a hard fought battle but unfortunately there can only be 1 winning team. 

Sunday today…

 Tomorrow SHOULD be my weigh in day but I’ve had a horror week and I think…no I know that if I weigh in the number would do my head in. So…tomorrow is a no weigh.

Also tomorrow morning I’m off to see specialist about my Dupuytren Contracture in my hands. The last few weeks they have got worse. Be very interesting to see what he is going to say and do. I’ll keep you informed. 

School finishes for the year on Thursday. The kids had their last assembly and awards presentation on Friday. Speaking to Williams teacher after the awards and she said he was so close to getting the academic award for his year but his writing let him down,  he knows that too….  He knows he has done well over the year, he has had his work acknowledged with merit certificates plus all his Children’s University acknowledgements. 

For the past 8 or 9 weeks William has been playing evening soccer. After a try out he was selected from a bunch of Under 11 girls and boys from various teams in the league he plays for.  His team has done really well considering all but 2 of them had never played together before. Last week I went and watched and I’ll be going this week too as his team is in the Grand Final. It’s an awesome achievement by the boys and girls. Well done to the coaches too who have all donated their time to the kids who just want to play soccer all year round.

The local news station heard about it and took some footage. William is in the footage, yellow and blue shirt, #17 

Let’s hope this works, 😊😊