The Bloggest Loser -- Week Two

Last week Josh won the week in weight loss percentage. We've got to be careful, girls. His body can drop pounds like nobody's business. He'll win if we let him. (It's okay if you win, Honey. I love you.)

So, ----> check your percentage for this week. Remember your original weight because you'll need that for future weigh ins, but for now your Start Weight will be your Current Weight from last week and your Current Weight this week will be whatever you weighed in at this weekend. Get it?

I lost nothing this week. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zero. Zip.

I'd be upset, but I'm still trying to recover from this week!! I ate better (except for yesterday's trip to the Chinese Buffet -- oh, but it was good) and I exercised. But my stress level was so high, I don't know if I could have lost any weight without a Bob or Jillian to be here and kick my butt. And without a second me to take care of everything that needed to be done.

"Let me e'splain. No. There is too much. Let me sum up." (Name that movie.) Emma had a huge research paper and project due yesterday. The teacher told us Monday. 3rd grade + Research Project = MAJOR PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT. She also had rehearsals for the talent show auditions that were also yesterday. Dad came to town. (The secret is out..... he got a job in Ajo, AZ, for the Border Patrol. He reports May 10, and Mom and Dad got a contract on their house in Great Falls last night. Things are happening fast for them.) Dad came to town a day earlier than I expected, so I was out running around with kids when he got into town and things just seemed to go downhill from there.

Friday was not your typical "Freaky Friday." It was "Freakin' Friday." It started around midnight when Dad finally got home from being stranded in the desert for a couple of hours. Then we slept. Then we all woke up and discovered that the game board Emma had made for her project had gotten into some water and was ruined. Then I fixed it from scratch in 17 minutes. The girls were late for school. As I checked them in we discovered that we had forgotten all the game pieces for her project. The second I parked in the school parking lot for the second time that morning I realized the girls had forgotten their lunches. I went home and tried to do school with Matt before the girls' lunch periods, but he didn't want to, so he sat in time out for about 20 minutes. The mortgage people called wanting more info and said closing will hopefully be next Wednesday. We finally did a little school. I took the girls their lunches. I got back and finished school with Matt. Then we waited for Dad, his buddy Ron, and Jabon to fix Dad's truck. We went to lunch. We went to Emma's audition (she rocked, btw). We went to the store. We went to Tara's house for dinner. I began making guacamole. I went to take a pit out of an avocado and chopped into the tip of my finger. It bled. Tara fixed me. I nearly fainted. A few times. We had dinner. Finally, we played some Rockband.

So, yesterday wasn't the best day. It pretty much summed up the way I've been feeling all week. If I can get through this weekend better than I did last weekend, I may actually have a good start to next week.

On to The Biggest Loser. I just love this show. I was so moved by the stories of the people in Texas at the 5k. Both of my parents have Type II Diabetes. I know I'm at risk. Ironically, they were living in Texas when they were both diagnosed. And at the weigh in, I actually was feeling so bad for the underdogs: Daris, Mike, and Ashley. It's not that I wanted Yellow or Grey to go home, I just wanted the individuals to do really well. I wanted Daris to win the challenge since he was working so hard by himself. We'll see what next week brings, eh?

Now tell me. How'd you do? Don't forget your weight loss percentage and tell me how your week went. Inquiring minds want to know!

Oh No She Didn't

Today I offer a new and prestigious award. I call it the "U Suck" Award.

This award goes to the Bus Stop Mom. I've mentioned her before. She thinks my kids' names are far too common and I'm mean to send Matt to school when he cries. Maybe I am, but today she just took the cake.

Her son came running to the bus stop all sorts of excited that brothers and sisters could come to school today. I told him that I hadn't heard that. His mom asked if we were going to the feast today. I had no clue what she was talking about. Then she mentioned soup and it hit me.

Last Monday (over a week ago) a note was sent home saying the class was making a soup the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. I saw that Matt was one of a few kids assigned to bring a can of potatoes or something (I did not see that families were invited). But, it wasn't grocery day yet and it I had over a week to get it in. Then life continued, the note got shuffled away somewhere and I forgot all about it.

So I realized that I had forgotten and I was feeling pretty bad about it and I wondered out loud if I would have a chance to bring the forgotten can to the school to add to the soup. Bus Stop Mom told me that we had to RSVP beforehand and they probably wouldn't have enough food for me. She began the winning descent to her award.

Finally the bus came and our sons got on the bus. I told Matt to have a good day and I love him and stood there for a second as I watched him settle into the bus. Bus Stop Mom started to say something to me, paused, and then smiled as broadly as she possibly could. She said, "You've made me feel very good about myself. At least I've got myself enough together to not forget about the feast." I stared at her. She continued saying that she's been feeling like her brain's not working right, but she's "not as bad" as me.

I think what upset me the most was feeling the need to explain myself to this woman. I even tried to a little, but she was so busy basking in the glow of her sudden happiness that she didn't acknowledge me.

So, with no further ado.....Bus Stop Mom, you have officially won the "U Suck" Award. I hope your inflated pride is large enough to hold your trophy for you.

The Council of Legendary Figures Expose!

When do you have the talk with your children?

I don't mean the "birds and the bees" or "just say no." I'm talking the "Santa's got a small budget and here is the reason why..." talk.

I was told the ugly truth the end of my second grade year. I was telling my mom that a few weeks ago, over Easter, I had seen the shadow of a six foot tall rabbit walking through our hallway. No, it wasn't Harvey. It was my childhood about to come to a halt. Of course, all through second grade all of my friends were questioning the existence of Santa, the Easter Bunny, and pretty much anyone else on the Council of Legendary Figures (watch The Santa Clause if you need more info about that). So, I wasn't shocked, but definitely disappointed.

Now, Emma is in third grade and Abby is in second. Is this the time for this talk? Do we wait until the girls demand answers? Might this need to be the year since we have an extremely limited Christmas budget and Emma has already written her letter to Santa asking for a pink Nintendo DS with red hearts on it with a carrying case and several specific games? She said she's asking Santa for the gift because she knows it's too expensive for us to buy for her.

I don't want to be the one to bring my baby's childhood to a halt. I also don't want to see her face when not even Santa can help her (Hello, Santa's trying to help us buy a new house!). Although, I am going to look online, Craigslist, Ebay, wherever I can for a deal. I'll try. But I can't promise to deliver.

When and how did you learn the truth of the Council of Legendary Figures?

'Fess Up Friday

This week wasn't so great.

I missed a couple of days of exercise because we were so busy looking for a house. No house and no exercise. Not a happy combination.

I've been eating a little better, though, so I am down a pound or two. So that's good, I guess.

Here's the bad part. My will has begun to waiver because of the stresses around me. A screwed up housing market. Kids throwing up. A sick and fatigued husband. A baby that refuses to fall asleep at 1am. Intruding on family beyond what we should be. Money and the lack thereof. All of these things are hurting my mind, which then tells my body to shut down.

It's no wonder stress makes you fat. Beyond the chemical responses it creates, it just messes with your mind and makes you want to be catatonic for the rest of the day. Stupid stress.

How'd you do?