Where do the Days Go?

Before and after photos. If they stay in order that is. I'm sure you will figure out which is before and which is after - LOL!!

Our beautiful new car. I just love it.

Our twin baby budgies. Unfortunately one of the babies had an accident and was trying to fly while the kids were holding him and had hurt his back or leg. He can't stand up so we are just hoping with a lot of TLC he will come good.

I can't believe it's been 2 weeks since an update. Life just goes by in a blur!!

Firstly weight loss.................

I have lost 6 kgs in 3 weeks and couldn't be happier. It has clicked back into place and I am very happy with such a good start. Just need to keep it going. One thing I have worked out though. Weight Watchers is for life. I need the accountability. Too many times I have left thinking I can do it on my own but I don't. I definitely don't agree with everything to do with weight watchers but I love my leader and it is still one of the cheapest weight loss programmes I know of.

I have just had my kitchen upgraded. A very long overdue project. When we moved into this house 12 years ago, the kitchen was the only thing not finished. The couple we bought the house from had split up and she had taken a tafe course to built the kitchen. She didn't get to finish it. As you can see from the photos, I have been living without cupboard doors for all that time. So we decided to do that and also put in extra cupboards and a rangehood over the stove. We had to put in a whole new pantry because she hadn't built that right and it was totally out of square and we wouldn't have been able to put doors on the old one.

I am thrilled with the result. It is getting finished off tomorrow. Unfortunately one of the panels by the rangehood was cut short so they couldn't put the doors on those cupboards.

Netball is finished for the winter season. I enjoyed coaching Nikki's team but am glad it's finished. Training Monday night and games Saturday afternoon takes a chunk out of the week especially when it is a 30 minute trip each way. But I coached a beautiful bunch of girls who got along so well and although we didn't make the finals, they all had fun and we had lots of laughs.

We have signed up with a builder to have the extra room built. Unfortunately it could take up to 16 weeks for council approval which could take it right up until christmas so I just hope we don't have to wait that long. With the new TV Steve won, our family room is so crowded. We have definitely outgrown the house as it is.

This weekend is going to another busy one. Jarryd has laser skirmish parties on both Saturday and Sunday. Nikki has a netball breakup which of couse I will go to. Football Saturday night and catching up with a friend on Sunday. I need to find some time to fill up a green bin for the green rubbish next week. We need to fill up a bin every week so get this area cleared in readiness for the new room.

Thanks again for all your comments and support. It means a lot.

Week 1 Weigh In & Other Stuff

These are Ashleigh's newest babies. Twin budgies who are just starting to come out of the nesting box.

Some photos of the area where we are going to build onto. As you can see, lots of work to do.

Well first week back and I am thrilled to say I lost 4.1 kgs. Goodness knows why I lost that much but I do know I stuck to the points 100% and did some moderate exercise. Nothing crazy, just basic healthy eating and exercising.

It doesn't make much sense though when my good friend Tania who I have started back at weight watchers with, did all the same things as me, has about the same weight to lose and lost 600g. Very disappointing but I know she will bouce back with a big loss this week.

It's been an amazing week in our house. It started last Friday when Steve won a radio competition on Triple M. He won a $5000 home entertainment package which included a 58" 3D plasma TV, a surround stereo system and a cabinet. He picked it up tonight and it is huge. Until we build this new room, it will have to live in the family room which is already cluttered.

Then on Saturday we bought a new car which we picked up tonight. Our poor old car had done 250,000 kms and was very worn out. We were looking for a commodore and found a VZ Calais that we did a good deal on. It is a beautiful car and obviously very well looked after. I was looking at the transfer papers when I got home and realised it used to belong to a beautiful blogger friend of mine, Bec's parents who live in a different state to us. What's the chances of that!!!

We have had some builders in to quote the new room and they have both said to get some plans drawn up and go from there. Our other option is a company coming out tomorrow that specialize in just additions and handle everything from start to finish so we will decide what to do after tomorrow. We have an area to clear which is shown in the photos and a lillypilly tree to remove which is going to be a big job. Steve wants to do it himself which will save us some money. So every weekend I will be filling a green bin. Busy times ahead.

Thanks to everyone for their support and comments on Ashleigh's bullying situation. She is a different child since she made the move nearly 2 weeks ago. It's so nice to see her smiling when I pick her up from school.

Back into It.

Well I went and faced those dreaded scales again last night. I was surprisingly nervous to walk through those doors but Tania held my hand - LOL!! As I already knew I had put on about 10 kgs in the last 6 months. Good effort hey!!

My old leader's face lit up when we walked in but she looked sad as I was telling her I had failed to keep the weight off by myself. I told her that I wasn't sad. Disappointed but not sad. This is just a bump in the big journey of my life. I will never get up to my highest weight that I started at 18 months ago so even though I have put on so much, it will come off again. I have come to the realisation that I cannot do this alone.

So day 1 has been a good day. Ate well and within points and did the 1.5 hours walking delivering the local paper so off to a very good start. One day at a time!!

Ashleigh is loving her new school. She has made friends already and comes out smiling every day which is a far cry from the last few months. She is hardly getting any homework compared to having to do hours every night. I am not a fan of homework. Kids have too much to do with sport and family committments that they don't need to be sitting down to hours of homework every night. I feel so relieved that we have made the right decision.

We had our first builder come over tonight and he has put us on to someone to ring to get some plans drawn up and then we can take them to a few builders and get some quotes. I must check with the bank but he said it is common in his game for people to have to get 3 quotes. I must start taking some photos of the area that we are building onto. We have a monsterous lillypilly tree which has to come out. Something else I need to get quotes on.

On a good note, I have got my tax back already and have done Steve's. He is getting about $5000 back which is fantastic for him. They have been taking out too much tax because his overtime is all over the place so it is nice to get a big lump sum. He is going to buy a laptop, golf clubs and stuff for his motorbike. I get some to pay the school fees and council rates. Big bills that only get paid at tax time.

Thankyou so much for all your supportive comments here and on facebook. I think things are turning around for the better. New beginnings.

Helloooo out there!

This is one of the reasons I hate blogging. The photos never go where you want them to. Ashleigh and Jarryd were lucky enough to be picked to be on the ground when the players come through the banner. Well we got the day where it was torrential rain. OMG it was awful. But the kids loved it. Well Jarryd did, Ashleigh spat it and wouldn't even let me take her photo on the ground!!

Took the kids to St Kilda playground on the way to Kadina to Steve's parents. They have been away all week :( I have really missed them but it is soooo good not to cook every night. And the house is the tidiest it's ever been with all my decluttering and no kids!! Must take some photos.

Ashleigh and one of her bestest friends. One who sticks up for her and one she will really miss.

Well I bet some of you are shocked to see a post. I got really bored with blogger. There are so many outlets out in cyberpace to find friends. I have found the most amazing people through my weight loss journey. But I find most of my friends are on facebook so it's easier to update things there.

As with most journeys, we can go off the rails. I have. AGAIN!! I have gained 10 kgs (well probably more. I will find out Tuesday.

Lots going on in the Lehmann house. First we decided we needed more room. Then we thought we might buy a bigger house with smaller land. But after working out the costs of changing over, our wonderful state government would get around $30,000 and the real estate agent would get $5,000 + comission. We have a 900 square meter block so the obvious choice in the end is to build on another family area and give Nikki the lounge. Then all the bedrooms are at the front of the house and 2 family areas at the back overlooking the pool. I do love our house but we are going to be stretched in the beginning with the extra mortgage. Well you can't take it with you, can ya!! So we are borrowing enough to rennovate the kitchen, build the extra room and buy a car. Ours is going to stop some time soon and never start again - LOL!! Lucky I have a mechanic for a hubby. I knew there was a reason I've kept him around.

We have also been dealing with the trauma of bullying. Ashleigh's so called best friend of 6 years has got other girls to do her dirty work because she has decided she doesn't like Ashleigh any more. We have finally figured out that the bullying for the last 2 years has been her doing because she hasn't got the guts to tell Ashleigh herself she doesn't want her hanging around.

I have never met such a horrible 12 year old. I have asked her so many times to tell Ashleigh if she is doing something wrong but she always says she wants to be Ashleigh's friend and she knows she should stick up for her. WRONG............ She has been behind it for 2 years. Getting other girls to be mean so she won't hang around her. One girl has been coming up to her for the last 6 months and telling her to go away and stop following the group. Ashleigh has other friends in this group of girls so that's why she wants to hang around.

So very long story, short she is starting a new school on Monday. It's the R-12 school where Nikki goes to high school. They will both be in middle school. Ashleigh year 6 and Nikki year 8.

Huge relief to everyone. My question through all this is how can a child who has been friends with someone for 6 years be so mean and manipulative!! All the while showing her other face and pleading her innocese in all of this.

Nikki has been in Year 8 for 2 terms and is loving it. She got straight A's term 2 and term 1 straight A's except for PE. She has her first boyfriend and a great group of friends. I feel confident going into the teenage years to say I am loving who she is turning into. Hope I can say that in a few years time - LOL!!

Jarryd is in Year 4. He has a best friend who is now part of this family. He is here most weekends. We were clearing up after dinner the other night and I asked the kids to clear the table. Cody helped and Jarryd told him not to because he was a guest. I told him to keep going because he's more than a guest now. He is playing school soccer in a really nice team and loving it. He has asked to play club soccer but it is soooo expensive and I just can't find any more $$

especially with the rennovations.

Steve is Steve!!!! Still the most unromantic people I have ever met. Still grumpy but a great provider and father. And I do love him after nearly 16 years. Lots can't say that.

So I plan (not promise) to update my blog more often. Weight loss progress, house rennovations and life in general. I can't believe how my kids grew up so very fast. I still have control but there is a day looming sometime very soon, that I won't have that control and that scares me. I look at my online friends like Corin who is pregnant with her 3rd bubba with envy because I want to go back there. I am so happy for her but I miss my babies. Treasure every moment because once they start school life gets busier than ever before and it's goes by in a blink.

Please say hello if you have popped in. That is probably another reason I don't update as often as I have is because I probably don't have many readers anyway so why bother!! But I love looking back on the photos and different stages of the Lehmann world.

My Week

Actually it's nearly 2 weeks since I updated. School is back and life is super busy again.

I have joined Curves. I am loving the format and the one on one you get. I know all the staff already and they are all super friendly and helpful. I couldn't get them to waver the joining fee so I am paying off the $124 over 12 months. It's only $2.50 per week which is nothing when you look at it like that. I know Curves is not for everyone but it is right for me. That might change down the track but I will commit to 12 months and see how I feel after that.

Unfortunately my good work has not shown on the scales. I gained 200g and 300g in the last 2 weeks. Although when I jumped on my home scales last Wednesday morning I was down 1 kg and they are still down. Because my meetings stopped last Tuesday night, I will weigh every Tuesday morning and record my results here.

Nikki started high school on the 27th January and is settling in very well. She seems happy and has already made new friends. It is a juggle to get her to a different school each morning and afternoon though. I have to be super organised especially in the mornings because I drop Nikki off at a friends at 8am and then 3 days a week Ashleigh, Jarryd and I walk to their school. Then back home and get to work by 9am.

It's amazing when you get into an exercise routine how much you enjoy it. I have gone from being horribly lazy over christmas and of course gaining weight to being active and focussed on continuing this journey. Yesterday I went to Curves in the morning and then rallied the girls and walked into Semaphore. A round trip of about 5 kms, half of it carrying heavy shopping bags. I was totally stuffed when I made it home but it was such a good feeling.

Steve and I are having a hard time again but we are talking things through this time before it gets out of hand. Money is our biggest issue. We had a credit card christmas this year because of a few circumstances beyond our control and the money just wasn't there. So I am in damage control and have redone our budget. How scary is that!!!! Mind blowing how much every bill has gone up in the 3 years since I last did a budget. Steve can't understand why when he works so hard (which he does) why the money isn't there to spend on himself. As everyone with kids knows, spending money on yourself is a rare luxury.

In the last month we have had over $1000 in bills I haven't budgeted for like rates and ambulance fund. Plus the extra we have to pay a month for Ashleigh's braces and a holiday to save for in March. Thank goodness Steve earns good overtime money which is all extra but he works bloody hard for it. But I know there are many families in the same situation. We are lucky to have our own home and not renting like so many.

Steve is going to Darwin in a couple of weeks to have a break with his best mate who lives up there. I'm jealous but I get my trips to Melbourne and god knows we all need time out!! Then 2 weeks after that we are off to Cairns. I am counting the days. We are going with a beautiful lady and her hubby and daughter I met through the ww forums and have come to be the bestest mates. Sammy has exactly the same struggles as I do with my weight and it's amazing to have someone who I have clicked with so well as a good friend. We have booked the most amazing house to stay in and I am so looking forward to sitting by the pool on the beachfront and doing nothing!!!!!! This is a relaxing holiday. We always go away and do things every day but this time we will do a couple of things and then spend the last week doing very little. I can't wait.

I am very excited about the turn this weight loss journey has taken. Some big changes for me but I know they are good changes. 2010 is our year girls!!

Happy Australia Day

Steve did this computer collage with some old photos he found of the kids. Good memories.





Jo (standing) and from left, myself, Jo and Kazz. From our lunch last Saturday. Awful photo of me. I had come straight from Curves and still had my hair up (Yuk!!)



Aarrggg. why does Blogger never put things were I want when I upload photos. Enlarge the collage. There are some great pics.


I just realised I haven't been here to update my weigh in last week. Another good week. I lost 1.2 kgs which takes me to 19.8 kgs lost. Still another 6 kgs to go to get to where I was and I kick myself every day realising where I could have been. But that's life. Full of bloody ups and downs, especially on this journey.

I am in the 2nd week of my Curves free trial and am loving it. I know it's not for everyone but I truly believe it is for me. Number 1 is the fact that I can go anytime I want. That is so important with my busy life. I don't feel like I am taking away time from my family because I can go during the afternoon, especially on a Friday when I finish early and the kids are at school. Every staff member I have encountered has been friendly and helpful and most of all interested in ME!!

They are about to start a Biggest Loser challenge which I am really interested in, especially as I finish up ww next Tuesday. The only hurdle is the joining fee. I have to see the manager on Friday and work this out. I can't afford a joining fee so if they want my business, they need to waive it. So I'll keep you updated on that front.

No meeting for me tonight because of the holiday so I'm going back to my old meeting on Thursday. Wonder if there are any familiar faces still there.

I had a lovely catch up with some ww friends last Saturday. We met at the Chinatown food court and I had vietnamese soup full of noodles, chicken, prawn, calamari and pork and cold rolls. I have no idea how much we have lost between us but it is a lot of weight. Kazz blows me away every time I see her. She has lost over 45 kgs and is a gym junkie - LOL!! Even though she weighs more than me, her body is looking so toned and it is testament to what you can do if you put your mind to it. Kazz is in the black singlet top in the above photo.

School goes back tomorrow. How quick did these holidays go!! Nikki starts high school and is really looking forward to it. It is a whole new chapter in both of our lives and I can't help but feel the slightest sadness. She is growing up way to fast for my liking.

I'll be back later in the week to update my weigh in and what is happening with joining Curves.

Feeling Good

Thank you all so much for your comments about the gym. I really appreciate the feedback.

I started my 2 week free trial at Curves on Friday. The staff were lovely and I honestly told her that I was gym shopping but she made me feel very welcome. She told me to look around and find something that suits me and my lifestyle. Didn't push Curves down my throat which was good. I loved the concept but I knew I would. The big plus is being able to go when I want not work around classes. And as for cardio, it's up to you how hard you work on the recovery boards. I really feel like I need toning and weight resistance more right now. I have a treadmill at home and walk with a friend who pushes me so I feel I am getting a reasonable amount of cardio.

I'm going to use up my 2 weeks and then try another couple of gyms and make the decision after that. I have cancelled my ww membership. I have a couple more meetings before it expires. Tuesday night should be interesting. The state manager is going to be at our meeting this week and I am going to have a talk with him. I sent an email 10 days ago now telling them my feelings about the new format and still haven't heard back. Pretty disappointing and it only makes me happier about my decision. They just don't care!!!

I have had a great weekend. Why do they go so quick?? The kids had friends over for sleepovers and on Saturday Nikki and I did shopping for all her high school supplies. This was an eye opener. I've never had to buy stationery before. It's all part of the fees in primary school but not in public high school. So with books and new uniforms this week it's an expensive time.

Today we went to Marion which is a big Westfield in Adelaide. We walked around there for 2 hours and I felt good. All 3 kids were whinging about how tired they were. Wusses!!!!! Jarryd saved his christmas and pocket money and bought a remote control helicopter which he is very pleased with. The girls spent their money in their favourite store - Diva which is a jewellery chain but really groovy and cheap jewellery.

Then I walked 40 minutes with another friend so I have definitely had my exercise for the weekend. My eating has been good so I am looking forward to weigh in on Tuesday night. I am in a weight loss facebook group with some friends who are having friendly competitions to see who is the biggest loser each week. Watch out girls, I'm going to beat you this week - LOL!!

Well I didn't win lotto this week so it's back to work for me tomorrow - BUGGER!!!!
Have a great week everyone.

Big Decision

If you are friends with me on facebook you already know this but after 18 months, I have decided to stop going to Weight Watchers meetings.

I still wholeheartedly believe in the concept of ww and will be following the programme but I have become very frustrated with the new meetings format. We are now down to a 20 minute meeting and I just don't think I am getting my moneys worth. I have always wanted to rejoin a gym but with money being tight, it was meetings or gym, not both. I needed the meetings in the past, I needed the accountability but something has changed. I have the most wonderful, supportive friends on facebook, most of whom I have met through the ww forums. I belong to a couple of facebook weight loss groups and have accountability there.

So I am going to put my money to better use and join the gym again. I have a 2 week free pass to Curves so I am going to check that out tomorrow. The positive of a gym like Curves is that I can go anytime which really appeals to me. Time is limited and to be able to do a 30 minute workout anytime is a great idea. On the down side, a few people have said it might become boring doing the same thing all the time.

I used to belong to a gym that has aqua classes which I loved. I can go back there but the classes I could go to are only on at night and most nights I have committments. Anyway I will do the 2 week Curves free trail and see how I feel after that.

I've had a couple of mini blowouts with my food this week. The night time munchies are my problem area but I have eaten less during the day to try and make up for it. Time will tell when I get on those scales next Tuesday. My ww membership is paid up until 2/2 so I will continue meetings until then. And I figure, if I realise I can't do this alone, there is no shame in going back to meetings. I probably will go back when I have 10 kgs to go because I have always had the goal of getting to Life Time membership.

I can't believe there is less than 2 weeks left of these school holidays. Where is that time going? Nikki is very excited about going to high school. We have to go and get a heap of stationery this weekend for her because it's not supplied.

Ok I'm heading to bed. This post was meant to be a very quick one - LOL!!

Thanks so much for all the support I get here and on facebook. It really means so much.

Easy Dinner

Because I am home alone tonight, it would have been so easy to get take away.

But I didn't. I got some prawns and made cold rolls.

Yummo and so easy. I put in vermicilli noodles, prawns, bean sprouts, snow peas, cucumber and corriander and added some sweet chilli sauce. I stuffed them full and was surprisingly very full after 3.

A Fresh Start

Life is good!!

I love the start of a new year to get everyone inspired again. In my case and a lot of friends I have met it's weight loss.

I lost 25 kgs in 12 months. Then over the last 6 months put 7 of that back on. Yes I am still 19 kgs down, but it could have been 30.

No regrets!! I'm just determined I'm not going back there.

I have the most wonderful support group on facebook. I belong to 2 groups of girls that are dedicated to losing big amounts of weight this year. I want to use this blog to do the same this year. But it's going to be about family too because I love looking back over this blog and seeing the kids grow up in front of my eyes.

Maybe that should have been my new year's resolution - To blog more!!

As I said the groups of girls that inspire me and motivate me are endless, and I really feel 2010 is going to be a big year in terms of weight loss. What I also like about these groups is that we are going to keep a tally of total weight lost. I remember being blown away when I went to Melbourne last year for the Run for Kids, we tallied up the total amount lost of all the ww girls and it was amazing. Can't remember the total amount so if anyone reading this can remember, leave me a comment.

I have had a very good start to the year. I weighed in last Tuesday and had put on 2.8 kgs from the last weigh in before christmas. Now that is a lot but believe me it could have been a lot worse. I back into it 4 days before I weighed and I was at least another 3 kgs heavier. Goes to show what eating crap and no exercise can do very quickly.

But that's over. I am looking forward to seeing the result this Tuesday because I have been pretty spot on with my food. I had a big night last night drinking but I only ate fruit during the day and although they were bringing plates of fried food out at the party I stuck to pita bread. mussels with tomato and bacon and chicken skewers that were char grilled. The scales looked good this morning.

It's been in the 40's here for the last 3 days in Adelaide and we still have today and tomorrow predicted to be 43. Walking is out the door. Still 34 deg at 9pm last night. I will try and see what I can do on the treadmill later.

The kids have been at Steve's mum and dads all week and are coming home on Monday. Back to cooking again. Bugger!! It's been nice not cooking every night. Steve and I had a few meals out thanks to the Entertainment book so it's been a lovely week.

Stay cool to those in heatwaves. I love getting comments as most bloggers do. I would love some support from anyone who reads. If you lurk, please say hi. I can see I get people reading from many overseas countries but don't comment. I would love to know your story or your blog.

I'm off for a swim. It's 41 and the shade has just come over the pool.

Happy New Year!!

Thought I would start the new year off with some photos of our last month.
Jarryd has inherrited 2 guinea pigs. Boy do they grow quickly.

Stansbury back beach. There is so much bird life and it's lovely to go down and feed the birds.

The girls riding their ripsticks.

Ashleigh on xmas day.

We bought the kids a trampoline.

I bought Steve a signed and framed Essendon print off of ebay. Unfortunately it arrived the day before xmas with broken glass so I had to race around and get someone to fix it.

Jarryd with his Bakugan he got from Santa.

I don't mind this photo of me for a change. We had a mate's 50th at our place the week before xmas.

Steve and I at my work break up.

We took the kids to see Santa. I think it might be our last year :(

I hope 2010 is a very special year. We have a Cairns holiday to look forward to in March.

Unfortunately my weight loss efforts have gone backwards the last few months so I need to refocus and get this journey finished.

Well as usual blogger isn't putting the comments next to the right photos but I hope you get the idea of what has been going on in our lives.

Merry Christmas

Just wanted to pop in and say to everyone that still reads my poor excuse for a blog, a very happy Christmas.

This year has just flown and I can't believe it is Christmas Eve. The kids are so excited and I am having a hard time getting them to stay in bed but I wouldn't have it any other way.

I hope you all have a beautiful Christmas with your family and friends and a very safe and happy 2010.

I'll be back soon to post some christmas photos.

Pretend Blogger!!

Ashleigh proudly showing off her braces.

The halloween party. The girls look great.

A winery we dropped into on our Mildura weekend. Would be nice to do a houseboat holiday and stop at places like this along the way.

The pool area where we stayed.

The entrance to one of the best thai restaurants I have been to in downtown Mildura.

Ashleigh modelling a dress I got for $15 on Bridge Road on my Melbourne weekend. You can really see why she needed braces in this photo. Those eye teeth have nowhere to go.

Harbourtown area in Melbourne.

Our disappointing Japanese Tepanyaki dinner. Company was unreal though.

Jarryd with my neices bearded dragon lizard.

I love reading blogs. I read blogs every day and used to comment on so many blogs, but life has got in the way. I am spending so much time on the computer just with facebook, the blog has taken a back seat.

I started this blog mainly as a diary of events that the kids can look back on hopefully one day. It's turned into a bit of a weight loss saga at times but the one thing I can truly thank the blog for is the wonderful friends I have made. I hate writing. I love reading well written blogs and wish I could write like that but the truth is that it is a chore to blog. I will never shut down my blog but will use it for photos and milestones and interesting things that happen in our lives.

My marriage has been a disaster for the last 2 years but we went to Mildura a couple of weeks ago and made a fresh start. The past is the past. No bringing up of old crap that we are never going to agree on. My part is less computer time which I totally get.

We have a house guest at the moment that has been here for 6 weeks. It's not an ideal situation but he is a good friend and he is down on his luck losing his marriage and business in the last few years. Not good timing for our marriage recovery having someone extra in the house but he would be on the street if we didn't take him in. He has been a great help around the house and has looked after the kids a few times. He has 2 boys that he has here occasionally. But this house is so crowded and I am over it.

Ashleigh got her braces on a last Monday and is coping really well. She had to have 4 teeth out prior and it was horrible. But she looks so pretty. Jarryd is heading down the same path. He has a baby tooth that should be down but isn't and the dentist is concerned something is stopping it. So she did xrays and we find out next appointment in January.

Weight wise, I am the same as I was 6 months ago. I guess I should feel good that I haven't blown out over winter which always happens. I am still 20 kgs down but it is slowly creeping back on so the journey continues.

Nikki has turned 13 and I am officially the mummy of a teenager :( She had a halloween party that got a bit big as you can see from the photos. Lesson learnt for Nikki. They were all pretty well behaved though except for the kid that decided it would be fun to throw food around a wet area. She won't be coming back - LOL!!

I'll try and do at least photo posts more often I promise.

Neglected Blog

Yes I know, I am very overdue for an update. Thanks for the reminder Penny.

I do get very bored with this blog sometimes. I am not a natural writer so just can't be bothered sometimes. I really admire people like Chris H who updates her blog several times a day. I'm more a reader than a writer - LOL!!

I'm up and down with my weight loss again. I have stayed the same, lost and gained over the past 3 weeks but have still managed to stay just above the total of 25 kgs lost. I know girly issues have a lot to do with this but I also have had trouble staying on track so no excuses here. I am taking it one day at a time. Tracking has been perfect the last 2 days so we'll see what tomorrow brings. I'm not stressing about it.

Nothing hugely exciting happening here. Nikki's netball has finished for the winter season so that has freed up Saturday afternoons. Jarryd is still playing soccer until mid September and then we are sport free on the weekends.

We have had our share of winter sickness. Jarryd is my worry at the moment. He picked up a virus a couple of weeks ago which triggered his asthma. We went to the doctor and he told us to get straight on to the puffers. Flexotide - a preventer and ventolin 3 times a day. His main symptom was a dry cough which got better but over the last couple of days has got bad again. He was hospitalised when he was 4 with asthma but has been ok since then. No real flare ups so we took him off the preventer after discussions with the doctor. He is well and truly back on it and I think he will be every winter now. We'll see how he goes during spring and summer. I am well and truly over winter now. Roll on summer and some hot weather. My poor baby is coughing in his sleep as I type. Might be a trip back to the doctor tomorrow I think.

Steve and I are going through a rough patch again. He went away for work last week and I did miss him. Since his shed has been rebuilt, I just don't see him. He has his computer set up out there with his music library and I know he is still trying to set things up but I seem to be getting the blame for me not making the effort to spend time with him. Well hello, I know where I would rather be on a freezing cold night. In the lounge in front of the tv with the heater going. He is very welcome to come and join me but the thought doesn't enter his head. Ashleigh made a comment the other night which hit home. She said she liked it better when daddy didn't have a shed because he was inside most of the time with us. Most nights he doesn't even come in to say goodnight to the kids. Very sad really.

I know people don't change and he has never been one to communicate his feelings but I really thought after the counselling, he would make more of an effort to talk to me. Just isn't happening. I find more things out through friends than I do from him. He just tells me, when pushed, that he thinks nothing has changed in our lives. Well I say the same, nothing has changed on his part either. We are still living seperate lives in the same house with the occasional intimate moments. Very occasional.

I am reaching that time in my life when things are probably starting to change. The dreaded menopause. My periods are becoming more irregular. This month it came a week early and was really heavy. Steve just doesn't get what is going on with me. I guess not too many men do understand womans issues. Sex is the last thing I feel like sometimes. I know this is also a reason my weight is up and down so much.

I got home last night from my meeting and Steve asked how I went. I told him I had gained this week and his response was that I was very bad and made a big deal of how he wasn't allowed to have a cigarette so why was I allowed to gain weight. He gave up smoking nearly 12 months ago. I was very hurt by his comments and just don't understand why he has to compare my weight loss with his giving up cigarettes.

Ok enough about that. I don't think I will ever understand how his minds works and he probably thinks the same about me - LOL!!

I finally did my tax online and we are going to get a nice big return. We were thinking of going to Thailand in March but that may have to be postponed to later next year. So we will definitely have a family holiday possibly during the Christmas school holidays. I so need a holiday. It's been nearly 2 years since our big Queensland holiday. I would love to go back up to the Whitsundays so we shall see what is on offer.

I have a couple of mini breaks coming up. A trip to Melbourne with the girls in mid September and a 3 days break in Mildura in mid October that Steve booked ages ago with one of those travel auctions on TV. I am actually looking forward to it. Probably just what we need. A weekend away just the 2 of us.

OK I won't promise when I will be back. But I do promise to post some photos next time. I just went and got the camera to see if there were any decent ones to upload and there is nothing. So I will take the camera with me in the next few weeks and take some interesting photos.

Til next time..........

25 Kgs Gone Forever

Yes I did it. I needed 700g at weigh in tonight to make it 25 kgs lost. I lost 2.1 kgs taking the total to 26.4 kgs lost since the end of October.

I wasn't sure how I would go this week. I have been sick since Friday and haven't done any exercise since last Wednesday so I was pleasantly surprised. Our wonderful weigher Don suggested I probably shocked my body because I had gone from exercising 5 times a week to nothing. All good I say, but I am keen to get back on the treadmill. Wow didn't think I would ever say that!!

I have been totally blown away by the support I have received this time around. I have met some wonderful people on the weight watchers forums who have kept me going in the very hard times. Jo and Sammy have lost huge numbers and have become very valued friends in real life. Also I am going to the most supportive meeting I have ever been to. There are 3 other friends I go to the meeting with every week. Tania, Karen and Sandy. You girls are especially inspiring. Tonight we lost over 5 kgs between the 4 of us. So to everyone who has commented here, on facebook and the ww forums, I thankyou so much.

We have been bitten by the winter bugs in our house. Nikki started coughing last Monday. Just a dry, annoying cough. I got her to the doctor on Thursday and he said it was a virus and gave her some puffers to take to help with the cough. They have really helped and by today the coughing has totally stopped. She kindly passed it on to me, but because I'm asthmatic, it has gone to my chest and I had to get some antibiotics which I started last night. I'm feeling a lot better today. But now Steve is coughing and blowing his nose and dying of the 'man flu'

The kids went back to school yesterday so all the sport has started up again. Nikki has only 3 weeks of her competition netball left. They won't make the finals this year. It seems like a really short season but she did miss the first 5 or so weeks with her ankle injury.

So now that I have lost 25 kgs I am looking forward to getting to the next milestone of 30 kgs and that magic 99.9 kg mark. Only 6 kgs to go!!

Up, Down, Up, Down

That is the story of my last 4 weeks. The scales are ultimately moving in the right direction. I lost 1.8 kgs this week but that was after a 1.3 kg gain last week. Very frustrating!! I am 700g off of losing 25 kgs and I want to get there so badly.

I look back on this journey. I lost 20 kgs in 5 months and it has taken me 4 months to lose the last 4.3 kgs. Having said that, I am now at 108 kgs which is the lowest I have been in a very long time.

My mission for the next month is to string 4 losses together in a row. I am so sick of yoyoing. I have no-one to blame but myself for this. I really don't know why I lose the plot but I am sure I am not alone. I do know that I get my best results when I track HONESTLY!! This is something I intend to put a lot more effort into.

I look at how far I have come in the last 9 months and do feel proud. I was on the treadmill tonight before I got picked up for weight watchers and my friend Karen was very surprised at how much I have improved in that area. We were regular walking partners in summer and she commented there was no way I was able to exercise like that 6 months ago. I do enjoy the treadmill because I push myself to levels higher than I would if I was walking along the beach.

I have joined a challenge on the weight watchers website to lose 15 kgs by christmas. It is 23 weeks until christmas. How scary is that. If I lose 15 kgs that will take my total weight loss to 40 kgs. I think it is totally doable and I am going to do it. My main motivation is Steve's works christmas party. It would be 12 months since I have seen a lot of these people and I want to blow them away!!

Onto other news. We have know for a while that Ashleigh will have to have braces but now the time has come. Her 2 eye teeth haven't come down because they have nowhere to go. She has to have 4 double teeth taken out asap and then a month after that the braces go on. She is very scared to have these teeth out and so am I. They will do 2 at a time in the chair so she will need to be very brave. Originally we thought she would have to have a top and bottom plate for 12 months prior to all this to make room but after having full dental xrays done, it won't be necessary so I guess that is one thing on our side. It will be a long, expensive process as many of you probably know from experience. My poor baby!!

My nephew did indeed have swine flu but has recovered and didn't pass it around to anyone thank goodness. We thought my mum might have been next because she was in contact with him 2 days before he got sick, but 2 weeks on, she is fine. It has been a dreadful winter for sickness. Nikki has been coughing for the last few days. No other symptoms, just a very annoying dry cough.

We are well into the second week of the school holidays and as usual they have flown. Nikki and Jarryd were supposed to go to Steve's mums for the first week but we got a phone call the day we were due to take them over to say Steve's uncle had collapsed at home and wasn't expected to last the night. He has very advanced cancer. Nearly 2 weeks later, he is still lingering. Existing on morphine. The doctors are amazed he is still going. Just awful for everyone around him. They don't let animals suffer like this!!! I don't get it.

Steve is off on a motorbike rally this weekend. Why he is going camping in the middle of winter is beyond me. Couldn't think of anything worse. I just hope the rain lets up so they don't get too drenched. We have had a lot of rain here in Adelaide in the last few weeks. Very badly needed but still not enough to break the drought.

I'll be back next week to let you know if I've cracked the 25 kgs. You better believe I will be giving it my best shot.

A Great Result

Well after 2 gains, I decided to put everything into it this week. I tracked everything and the result...................

2.7 kgs loss taking the total to 23.8 kgs gone.

I made the decision to commit 100% and it paid off. Now I just have to back it up next week.

One of the big things that has helped the hunger this week is home made vege soup. I made a big pot full of vegetables and added 1 cup of barley to bulk it up. I'm really enjoying it in this very cold weather. Nothing like a big cup of steaming hot soup to warm you up.

Speaking of the weather. It has been shocking here in Adelaide in the last 2 days. Yesterday we had some very strong winds and lots of rain. We so need the rain but I hate it when it is so windy. We live in a beachside suburb and copped a lot of damage about 10 mins from here. One street had about 15 concrete power lines flattened. We lost our power for most of yesterday. It did go on in time to watched 'Packed to the Rafters' last night. Just as well!!

When I got home from work this afternoon, it was out again but soon found out it was just us. Because they still haven't finished the work on the shed, the filter for the pool is still out in the weather. Because of all the rain, the temporary power cord from the pergola to the filter had filled with water and tripped the safety switch. Luckily it was easy fixed when Steve got home.

My 5 year old nephew is waiting on tests results to see if he has swine flu. He started school this term and a child at his school was diagnosed last week after an overseas holiday. My nephew is a very active child and was falling asleep at school yesterday and had very high temps. So him and my sister are in quarantine. Luckily we haven't seen them for a couple of weeks although my mum has been in contact with them on the weekend. So we will be keeping away for a week or so. Test results should be back tomorrow.

School finishes here for the term on Friday. Where did this term go?? Nikki and Jarryd are heading over to Stansbury to stay with Steve's parents for the first week. I wish this year would slow down because my big girl will be finishing year 7 at the end of this year which means she is off to high school next year. That makes me very sad. I can still clearly remember her first day at school and now she is only 6 months away from finishing her primary years.

I'm really looking forward to the holidays though. All the sport stops for a couple of weeks which means no Saturday games and no practices during the week. Bliss!!

Have a great week everyone.