Christmas

Nicola, Adam, Pippa and Thomas

These four little munchkins are the kids of my twin niece and nephews....I adore them. They are loving having their Aunty Jen and Uncle Ted in their lives as much as we do them.

Our pressie from my neice and nephew and families

This gorgeous wall blue bird candle holder was given to us from Tam and Tom and families....I absolutely love it....and very quickly found a place on my wall for it.

Gorgeous Pippa in her Rapunzel outfit we gave her

This Rapunzel outfit is what we got our little Pip. We had our Christmas get together on the 23rd....and you can see from the pic above of the four of them together, the outfit was her chose of outfit for Christmas Day.

Beautiful Nicola in her fairy outfit we gave her

Nicola just loved her outfit too....she was sooooo excited about it and how pretty it was she just couldn't find the right words to say......

My brother with Adam

This is my big brother....he joined us on the 23rd....none of my other family could make it. Rod was nearly in tears on his way home...he found it very emotional. He had met Tom, Tam and Tash before but this was the first time he had met their husbands/partner and their kids. And he very nearly didn't come down for the lunch together as his fiancee had just had shoulder surgery.

Anyways a lot more gatherings are planned for us all....hopefully in the near future we can all get together. the new year is just around the corner so we have them to look forward to.

Christmas was very quiet in our household. It was only us and Kylee for Christmas Day.....the boys and their wives/partners all had made other plans. Paul and Tanya have been down to her Dad's place in Pemberton with her sisters and families and will be coming out with their kids tomorrow. 
I am working tomorrow evening so before I start work I will call in and see the troublesome one and drop his present off and those he gave me to put away for his kids. (he has his access visit at his house on the 29th). I will also drop around to his kids house and drop off their presents from me and their Pop. 
Simon and Tracey and kids went down to Manjimup to see his Dad....was meant to call in on Boxing Day on their way home, but due to the extreme heat we have had....and radiator problems on his car they are going to come down on Sunday to spend time with us.

Hubby and I don't usually buy presents for each other, we usually go in and buy something we both want/need. Before Christmas we went in to Harvey Norman and I bought myself a Macro lens for my camera....I love it and been having so much fun playing with it. Hubby bought himself  a crash cam for his 4x4...he has had so many close calls whilst out driving he decided one was needed. 

I went overboard on my eating over the Christmas break and felt absolutely fat and bloated.  it was my Kate Morgan weigh in today and every intention of NOT weighing in....but on going down the street I ended up going in and weighing. To my surprise I only gained 600g so I am so thankful I didn't blow it !!  The last 2 days I have been totally on track.

A quiet Christmas

Its going to be a quiet Christmas for us....
Hubby finishes work on the 21st and doesn't go back to the 3rd of January, but I work days and nights in between those dates..including Boxing Day and New Years Day.  I don't mind...the extra $'s will come in handy.
Paul and Tanya are going down south to Tanya's Dad place for Chrissy so we'll catch up with them on their return, Simon and Tracey haven't made up their mind where or what they are doing as they only have Christmas and Boxing days off work, Kylee will be home...and Shawn, the troublesome one,  will be out on the 28th for his access visit and Christmas visit with his kids. I WILL NOT allow him to bring his partner Shaz to this house, something she said to me will never be forgiven or forgotten. I always thought she being a lot older than Shawn would be good for him, bring some "maturity" into his life....boy did I think wrong!!

Anyways, "Kate Morgan" is still in my life....500grams gone, not a lot,  but after last weeks huge loss I didn't expect it to be. I'll plod along and hopefully by the time my holiday rolls around I will have lost a few kilo's and got myself back into the 70's.

Best get myself ready for work....

A good week

A real good week, plenty of exercise and good food.
To give myself a kick start in getting this extra weight off I have been doing Kate Morgan. They are meal replacements, yummy shakes and bars twice a day, and a normal evening meal, but can also eat fruit, soups and salads in between. I must admit I was skeptical as to how it would work, or if it would be enough to keep me full...especially with work. But other than a headache the first day I have had no problems. Will say I have had some chrissy parties and get togethers to go too so have done a little "cheating" but I am happy to report over a 2 kilo loss.
I want to get under 80 kilo's again but more than anything I want to be comfortable in my clothes and myself. We are off on our small holiday in late January, would be nice to get back into my favourite shorts by then.

pffffttt

Skye is 9


Wellll the week hasn't been the best, foodwise anyways....

First I had our little Miss Skye turn 9, her Daddy and her siblings celebrated here on their usual end of month access visit. Her Pop and I gave her the Cabbage Patch doll...which she loved. My daughter loved hers too when she was that age...and that got me thinking, where in the heck was hers? It apparently got left behind when we moved down from up north....only Kylee's favourite doll of all time and her bride doll made the trip. So I have been on E-bay and Gumtree chasing down old Cabbage Patch kids...

And talking about Kylee.....she bought a house on the weekend. Finance is to be arranged, but she has been told  from the bank there is no reason why she shouldn't get it as when she put a offer in on another house a week or so back they told her it shouldn't be a problem....and that was $23, 000 dearer than this one!  Anyways this house is an old one, double brick and tile, 3 x1...needs a lot of TLC but hey it won't be long and Kylee will stamp her style on it !!

Friday saw us heading up to Pinjarra to meet up with our best friends  (who are our travelling companions). Grant's mum passed away and Friday we supported him and his family through the funeral. Very emotional time for them, and us too. Anyways in just over 7 weeks time we are off travelling with them again. They are due over in Bathurst in early February so before they head there we are going to partner up with them again and do a 2 week trip around the south west coastline. So that gives us a couple of weeks to meander from here following the coastline all the way to Esperance. Fun times are a coming.

Soooo before we head off I am going to go on a weight loss plan.....and hopefully by the time we leave I will be have myself sorted out.  can't keep on going the way I am. I have days where I get it together, then I will eat something I shouldn't then think what the heck and end up binging for a few days before I get myself back on track....just a big vicious circle, which hopefully following a regimented plan I will be able to stop!!

Now thats over.....

Now I am in the clear, I can stop the stressing, stop the emotional eating and get my weight under control. Since the first recall back for mammograms I have some good days, some bad days and some goddamn awful days...but now this weekend is almost over its time to get myself under control. I have celebrated too well these past few days. 
I know, I know, I say it over and over...but hey one of these days, hopefully this time around,  I will manage to do it. Its a matter of having too...my weight has gone up to an all time high...I have hit the 80's, a good 10 kilo's plus over my goal weight. My goal is to get under 80 by Christmas...small steps...just small steps...

Yayyyy

I am HAPPY....

Yesterday I had my ultrasound. On it they could see the mass in my breast was a cyst, but because it had some "white" spots through it they decided to give me a fine needle aspiration and drain the cyst, which they did, and have sent it off to pathology. The Dr that drained it said not to worry as he is 98% sure it is benign and the "white" spots showing in it is more than likely caused through my thyroid condition. My Dr will ring me on Monday and tell me the results.

Hubby and I went out for dinner last night and celebrated.

ohhh boy am I glad that is all over.

Waiting, waiting, waiting

Today I heard from Global Diagnostics and my ultrasound is next Friday...the earliest they can fit me in as IF I have to have a fine needle aspiration I have to time and technicians allocated for that.  I could go to Mandurah ( 40 minutes up the road) and have a ultrasound there tomorrow BUT if I do that and I need the aspiration I have to come back and get yet another referral for that.....SO I WAIT!!  Dr has told me there is every chance I will need the aspiration as it has to show up 100% cyst for them not too.....

So whats been happening?

phewww well not a great deal really....though to a stress pot like me, a lot.

I finally, after 2 close friends got diagnosed with breast cancer went for my mammogram. They say its been quite a few years since I have been in there....and to tell the honest truth I can't remember when I did go, remiss of me I know ....maybe I have a blog entry. Anyways...the first mammograms came back inconclusive, so went back for another lot a week later. Another phone call to say those ones said right breast okay, come in we need to take more pics of the left one, something in behind the nipple is not right. A phone call on Monday tells me there is definetely a mass behind the nipple and they tell me not to worry but all my paperwork and scans have been sent to my Dr and they want him to refer me to get a ultrasound done. Please don't worry they say....how can you not worry !!

The pictures above are how I am coping. I love the beach, must have something to do with being a Pisces, coz as soon as step foot on the beach I just chill. The sounds of the waves just calms me....so I walk Shera and I leave there refreshed. I have deferred Curves for a while till this is solved and when I am not walking with my girlfriend I will be getting my excersise here.

Eating, well thats been hit and miss....somedays good, others better.....it seems to be evenings that I just want to eat all my problems away.

Time and time I try.....

.......and lately time and time again I fail and let myself down.
I know what I have to do, I plan, I plot, I track....and then again I let myself down and indulge. Then think...damn done it again, ohh welll finish it off and start another day tomorrow. Then tomorrow I do it again...one big vicious never-ending circle.

I was going so well for a while there till menopausal hot flushes began AGAIN , along with the damn hot flushes, the mood swings, the dry skin, itchy skin and all the other hormonal crap. Saw my doctor and he put me on some new meds....but I have had to take myself off them, they just made things worse.

Heck knows what size I would be without all the excersise I do....I am loving all the beach walks I am managing with Shera.

  

My daughter has returned from her European tour and she has spoilt me rotten...these handmade earrings...in my favourite colour. Some gorgeous perfumes and beautiful clothes.
Kylee had a trip of a lifetime....loved every minute of it, but is so happy to be home. Lots of memories for her. She is reliving them at the moment as she shows us all her photo's and diaries. 

Time to go...and draw up yet another plan, another menu...and hope one of these tomorrows I find the balance I need to lose these kilo's I need to.

Just yummy

I tried this last night, it was simply deeeevine. I served it on a bed of brown rice. Hubby who is not a fan of curries, or rice,  demolished all of his...and enjoyed it muchly. This recipe is a keeper :-)

Sweet and Sour Slow Cooker Chicken Curry

PointsPlus™ Value:    8 Servings:  4 Preparation Time:  10 min Cooking Time:  240 min Level of Difficulty:  Easy

Pop this Indian-inspired dish into a slow cooker and enjoy a warm meal … hassle-free.

Ingredients 1 pound(s) uncooked boneless skinless chicken breast(s), cut into 1-inch pieces   (I used chicken thighs) 1 large green pepper(s), cut into 1-inch pieces    1 large uncooked vidalia onion(s), sliced   (I used a brown onion) 14 1/2 oz stewed tomato(es)  ( I used a small tin)  1/2 cup(s) mango chutney    1/4 cup(s) water    2 Tbsp cornstarch    1 1/2 tsp curry powder    Instructions Place chicken, pepper and onion in a slow cooker; top with tomatoes. Mix together remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Pour over chicken mixture, cover and cook on low heat for 4 hours. Yields about 1 1/2 to 2 cups per serving.

Kitchen

 These are pics of the kitchen before...forgive the mess but this was as I was packing up minutes before hubby decided to wreck the place.  Things were EVERYWHERE !!!  But look at the daggy old shelves, I had no cupboard space....it was so out-dated !!

These were taken this morning...nearly everything is done. The pantry door is going, we have a new one and that is being painted the same colour as the cupboards. Haven't got our new splashback yet as we are undecided on the colour....at this stage I have decided on a ice blue colour.  

Whats been happening?

Sheymus, Jessica, Thomas and Zoe

Not a real lot. Getting quite frustrated with the kitchen, so want to show you all....but still waiting for a few things before it is finished. Need the electrician to come back and put a switch into the fridge recess so I can move that to where it belongs. A cupboard door that we had to send back as it was the wrong colour hasn't been replaced yet. A rack for one the cupboards has yet to be fitted....but I guess in time it will be ALL done.

I had the grandees this weekend. So awesome, haven't had time with them for ages. Mum and Dad went to Perth for a seminar so I had them all weekend. The happy bunch above is them waiting impatiently for their mini pizza's too cook :-)
Jessica told me some exciting news while she was here, she has been selected in the STATE team for  a PCYC gymnastics event in a few weeks time....how awesome ehh, one very proud Jenna here.
All 4 of them are very athletic and enjoy competing.

A very busy few weeks for me coming up, from now till the 17th October I will be working fulltime again...weekends off thankfully. Money I guess will come in handy and most of the shifts are early morning ones...so afternoons will be mine.  Thankfully as on Thursday evening my daughter flies off on a trip of a lifetime to Europe.

Weigh in this morning....another 500g off, whatever I am doing is right...long may it last.

Well must run....due for work shortly.  

September on our block

Golden yellow Grevillea

Geraldton wax

Bacon and Egg

Donkey Orchid

Cowslip Orchids

All going well here.
Have had some absoluteeeely gorgeous days here and this weekend it is meant to be even nicer...going to enjoy it. Definetly Spring has sprung.
Going to get some gardening in, lots of weeds in the garden need to be gone.
Also hoping to get into town and look at a Macro lens for my camera....these pics were taken on a macro setting but need a macro lens to get the detail just right.
We have over 2.5 acres has our house block and a lot of it we have kept natural bush, lots of gorgeous orchids and wildflowers pop up. Have some hibiscus and my roses, but to make it easier on us we plant as many native plants as we can. The birds love it too...love watching them flittering around the shrubs.

Weigh in was earlier this week, another good loss, long may it last.

Kitchen should be finished this weekend, only waiting on a cupboard door, one was sent in the wrong colour. Pics will go up soon.

All going good

We are heading into the football finals...my West Coast Eagles play in a elimination finals this weekend. Go Eagles...you can do it....

Last week I went to a seminar hoping, but at the same time very sceptical, that what I was going to hear and do would help me lose weight.
I walked out of the seminar 2 hours later, still very sceptical, but I put into practise  what he said to do...and this week I have had a loss of 1.3 kilo's.
My girlfriend went to the same seminar the week before and is doing exceptionally well, having lost 5 kilo's already.
Will see what the next few weeks bring.

Kitchen is coming along....hopefully this weekend it should be finished....and yes I promise pics will go up. Just been looking for some old pics....but couldn't find any, BUT I did take a few before we started, not good ones but enough for you to see the transformation...I do love it !!
Only decision we will have to make is the splashback behind the cooktop....going to leave the old tiles that are there for now until we decide on the colour of the new one. Maybe when you see the pics you can give me your thoughts...I want something that will bring out the duller colours in the bench tops.

Right, time to go....have a lunch date today and I haven't even started any housework yet.

Going to try...

.....And that it is. I am working towards a new one.

I have been trying and trying for months to get on top of my weight....every day being a new day I keep on trying, I have never quit, I have detoured occasionally though.
 But with menopause, hormones, thyroid and stress it just hasn't been doing anything but go up.
Had more blood tests the other day....and awaiting results. Other than the hormones hitting rock bottom and being low in vitamins nothing has been found yet to cause my weight to continue to gain and me to be feeling blahhh.
Had  a loss at my ww meeting the other night though, 350grams

But anyways my g/f went to see someone the other week as her weight had climbed to the highest it had ever been due to a lot of health problems, but her habits, her way of thinking since she saw this man has changed and her weight is now going down.
I am off to see the same person on Thursday....and if I have the same success as my g/f I will let you know what I have been up to.  

Anyways kitchen update.....its getting close to completion. Waiting for the last of our order and we will be finished. Oven is in, worked once, then it started making a noise....waiting for someone to come and fix...very annoying...a brand new 1,700 oven, used once...... I not happy.
Cooktop is brilliant...I love it and my new bench tops...
Still undecided on my splashback colour...going to wait till everything else is done to see what will look the best.

grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

When I hit rock bottom I hit it with a crash.
I have done that ....NOW I have to suck it up and get over it. Thought I had today, the day started real well,  but nahhhh I hit the pantry this afternoon and found food and ate, and ate, and ate....

Why? Why?
No reason really....none at all. 

Tonight I have stood in front of my mirror after I spent some time looking at my "at goal" pics and I really looked at myself.  NOW I have to realise that the 10 kilo's I have put on is now a little more that that....AND if I am not careful it is going to be back where I was before I started this journey. 
I have to stop "losing the plot" when I gain a little, cos every time I do, I gain more....that vicious circle has to stop!!! I have to be kind to myself....  

NOW how do I dig deep and find that mojo again.....and keep it ??

pffffffffft

Thats what I said at weigh in last night....when the scales for the second week said GAIN!!!!  Why I haven't figured out yet....as I have been doing every thing right. Well my tracker says so, exercise is perfect, I have been taking my thyroid tabs....sooooooooo I can only imagine that soon the scales are gonna go down.

Its disheartening but I'll hang in there, just have to. If I say pffffffft and go out and binge it'll only make it harder on me, so its suck it up, get over it and move on.

Have been busy....

Life has been real busy. Working 5 days a week, busy with family and organising my new kitchen on the weekends...."me" time has been rare. No matter getting this new kitchen, even if it is DYI, is a dream come true. Off into Bunnings again tomorrow to pick up some more of our order, Ted has built up all the ones we bought home last weekend. Will have to wait a month or more for all the doors, but that gives us time to get all the cupboards built and then its onto the fun job of wrecking the grotty old kitchen and putting the new one in :-)
And YES will definitely put up some old and new pics.

My poor computer which has been a "lemon" since I bought it has been retired. Darn thing was rattling and making very very weird noises so spent more money and bought a new one...a Apple Mac.  Very different I can tell you BUT I am loving it so far.


Weight...is going down, slowly but surely. Have had a few little lapses but on the whole I am staying on track.
Will have a bit more time to prepare menu's, cook and freeze meals now, my 10 week full-time stint has finished and I am now back to my 2 days a week and  any relief shifts in the town shopping centre.

Day of rest....

Today I have a day off....one that I really really need. I have been working fulltime for 6 weeks now and its really taken its toll, heck knows how I used to cope when I was out on the farm working.
Anyways today I have planned nothing much at all...except a catch up with one of my neices for lunch....which I am really looking forward to.

This has been me of late. It seems to get out of control after work and the last few days I have been super bad!  Today is a day all about "me" and I think its because its been all work, work, and work and no "me" time thats bought on the eating. Hopefully because I have aknowledged it I can keep it under control.

Now....super news. My kitchen renovation that I have been wanting is going to at long last happen. The rangehood, the cooktop, the oven., dishwasher..and the kitchen sink have been bought...and plans are just about done. Its a flat-pack, diy, but its being done to MY design, MY choice...so I am happy.

Family

C 'mon its ice-cream time

 Shawn had his access visit on the weekend. Decided as Kylee is doing night shifts that we would take them down the park. They had a ball down there, the park is on the edge of the estuary, so the kids were able to run around and enjoy the wonderful weather. Whilst they were playing I went over to the shops and bought them all fish and chips...they thought it was awesum!!
Just after they finished lunch, Kylee came down and joined in the fun...she loves her neices and nephews, and tries to spend as much time as she can with them.

Brother and Sister

She, despite all Shawn's " troubles" gets on well with him. Just wish for the sake of himself and his health, and for his kids...he'd give up his "habit" and live a drug free life. Each day I pray that he does as the more he uses the more he tends to "need" it !
We had a meeting today with his case worker from DCP ....his access visits are soon going to be changed to twice monthly...one visit with him at his house (Shawn is meeting her at his house on the 19th) and the other here at mine. Instead of all day visits, they will be 4 hourly so the kids get good quality time. After a full day visit they tend to get tired and grumpy...

Anyways...its been a long week...this working fulltime is very tiring...but its enjoyable too. The $$'s are sure handy too.

Weigh in was last night, a stay the same...

ABC

A...is for active. 4 or 5 days a week see me going to Curves, followed by a 30 to 45 minute walk with the dog.
B...is for breakfast, which is a daily must, whether it be a cooked one, which I usually do on the weekends, or cereal which I usually have weekdays.
C...is for comfort, after a busy day nothing better than coming home and donning my pj's.
D...is for diet...at the moment it is good :-)
E...is for exercise, which I get plenty of.
F...is for fuel...which is what I am doing with my food, making sure I eat the right foods to keep my body going.
G...is for good, and thats what I am feeling right now.
H...is for happy..that I am :-) 
I...is for icy...its damn cold here !!
J...is for Jenna...my favourite name..love my grandies.
K...is for kitchen....still waiting, waiting, waiting for my new one :-(
L...is for lazy...can't wait for a lazy weekend....
M...is for mum, happy that mine is still with us.
N...is for neices and nephew....so happy that they have re-connected with us...the smile all their faces show how happy they all are.

Tom, Tammi, Kylee and Tasha

 O...is for open. My house was open on Sunday to my lovely neices and nephew and their delightful partners and children.
P...is for my pj's...my favourite piece of clothing at the moment. Now that I am working fulltime I love to come home and have a hot shower and don the old flannette pj's :-)
Q...shhhhh gotta be quiet...dear daughter has started night shift...12 midnight to 8am.....
R...is for right...everything seems to be right in my little world at the moment.
S...is for Sister..and seeing her big smile on Sunday meeting our nephew and neices....and the lovely phone call I received that night from her thanking me for sharing the day with her.
T...is for thanks for all the blessings in my life at the moment.
U...is for the understanding my family and friends have given me the past few months as I struggled with my health.
V...is for voucher, I have one to spend when I lose 5 kilo's.
W...is for wages....loving the extra money the extra hours are giving me.
X...is for x-ray, glad I didn't have to have one.
Y...is for yogurt...my favourite sweet. I have found a unsweetened and flavoured greek yogurt, its so creamy and filling.
Z...is for zone...I am in the right zone, long may it last.