Welcome to Our Site: April, 2008

Tamera's profileWelcome to Our SitePhotosBlogListsMore

Tools

Help

<< First < Previous Next > Last >>

April 22

I'm Grounded!

For all my kind and loving friends, I want to let you know that we have not fallen off the face of the earth, we are just unburying ourselves from a load of to-do's. Unfortunately, our diet (mine in particular) has suffered this last week or so for it because I have not even made the time to fix things for me to eat and have simply grazed - that works for some, but not for me. It's a bad habit I developed long ago, that I saw crop up again last week. It was a real eye-opener.

Nonetheless, we have several projects we MUST complete soon (at least the list is getting smaller). Since being on this space consumes a good bit of time because I would MUCH rather check-in and check on you, my dear friends, I am temporarily grounding myself so that I can get things accomplished more quickly. (Kind of like my parents would do when I didn't get my chores done - no TV, no going out with friends.)

We do truly care about our friends here, so please be patient with us and know we still love you and will be back as soon as possible to tell you so individually.

Love you all and thanks for your continued support and encouragement! You mean so much to us!

Tammy & Justin

12:21 PM | Add a comment | Read comments (4) | Permalink | Blog it

April 14

I Learned Something New Today

When I went to the health program offered at our church, my blood pressure was 116 / 68 and my heart rate was 60 bpm. The EMT asked what I thought about that BP and I said, "Aaaa, it's okay." He told me that he thought that was great and was not worried about my BP. I can't believe my HR was that low. My blood sugar was 86. That was GREAT! I was really glad to see that number.

I asked about cholesterol screening, but they said that I would need to fast for that. I said, "Oh, really? Everytime I've had it done, I was never told to fast." They looked at me surprised and said that the results would be off significantly if I hadn't fasted. It makes sense, but I figured the doctors who told me my total cholesterol was border-line high would have let me in on that part. I guess I need to see if I can get my cholesterol tested after fasting and then I will know if I really need to be concerned at this point or not. The thing is, I was told this 16 years or so ago. I have been to doctors since who have taken my cholesterol levels without once asking me to fast.

Have any of you been told to fast before having your blood cholesterol taken? Have any of you been like me, and not told anything like that? Just curious.

It's late. Justin's already snoring.

I'm going to hit the hay.

Looking forward to tomorrow night.

Tammy

Weigh-in Day 4/14/2008

Justin: 205.0 lbs, lost 1.0 lb from last week. Lost 19 lbs total, for a percentage weight loss of 8.5%.

Tammy: 201.8 lbs, gained 0.2 lbs from last week. Lost 11.8 lbs total, for a percentage weight loss of 5.5%.

I was doing really great, then something got my goat and I could NOT rest well. I had weird dreams, hot, cold (more to do with being very warm in the daytime then dropping significantly at night and Justin stealing the covers. I'm hoping everything will get on track this week.

Justin took off work Friday to go to a funeral of a friend of his, then came home and worked in the garden and played with the girls while I got a great deal of paperwork done that I needed to accomplish. I still have a good bit more to do, but I feel like a big load was lifted. I wanted to work in the garden Saturday, but when we left town to go to Clifton, we opted to browse (county-wide garage sale day) and take our time. Our son got home past curfew Saturday night and Sunday. Just piddly stuff going on, but a lot of it. I'm hoping to make the most of today so the rest of the week will be less stressful.

I am going to a free health program that our church is offering in conjunction with a local hospital and clinic to check my blood pressure and blood sugar. If they check cholesterol, I want to get that checked, also. This is the first day they are offering it and plan to offer it monthly from here on.

I have a vacation Bible school meeting tonight, then hopefully get to go to another meeting that is scheduled regularly for tonight.

Thursday, the children and I are going to Athens, TX to a fishery as part of a field trip. They get to see how it works, watch a film on it, then go fishing. We should all have fun.

I hope everyone's weigh-ins went / go well. I hope to see more of our friends on BL tomorrow night.

Tammy

April 12

You'll Have to See this to Believe It

At around 11:00 am this morning, I went to "downtown" Cranfills Gap to mail a letter and deliver some books to some friends. As I drove down the street, I saw a firetruck. "Oh," I thought, "They must be here for the fire department fundraiser going on. Then, I saw police officers putting the yellow crime scene tape around the post office. Then I got to the front of the post office and could not believe what I saw...

Cranfills Gap Post Office after Incident

I was so concerned for the postal employee that worked there. I asked one of the young volunteer firemen if anyone was hurt. He said, yes, the lady who drove the pick-up through the front of the post office had been careflighted out. Nobody who worked there was injured and there was nobody else in or around the post office that was hurt. I found our local postal worker in front. She lives in our town and goes to our church. She was talking with some other friends, one of whom works with her in the post office with her in Clifton during the week. She was no longer shaken, thankfully.

She had been closing up when she saw a lady driving a pick-up forward and hit the concrete flower pot, back up, accelerate, and come at the building again. She just had time to open the inner door and head toward the back door. She got out. The lady driving the pick-up hit the post office no less than three times, some witnesses say four times.

As the lady backed up the vehicle, she hit two other vehicles across from the post office, knocking both of them up on a curb and blowing out the (brand new) tires of one of them, a green pick-up that belonged to the postal employee.

She then backed up one of the streets and, according to witnesses, spun into the ditch near what once upon a time was a hardware store.

According to the people who knew the woman, she and her husband are real sweet people. She had been heavily medicated and was suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.

Praying for the lady who hit the post office and her family, as well as those who work at our post office, especially the friend who was working there. We drove her into Clifton to relieve another postal worker there (I can't imagine going through that and still having to continue working). She is okay, but I imagine she will still be inwardly shaken for some time now. Thankfully nobody was in the post office getting mail or anything at that time. We have mostly elderly people in our community who could not have moved fast enough to get out of the way.

God was looking out for our friend today. I pray that he will comfort the family of the lady who did this. They must be terribly upset and troubled.

April 08

BL 4/8/2008 - WAY TO GO GIRLS!!!

I am so PROUD of the girls!

Ali has done an outstanding job - ever since she came back, she HAS been the Biggest Loser each week. That is outstanding, especially considering that not only is she a woman, she had already lost so much weight that to achieve that week after week is astonishing. Then this week to lose 11 lbs to be 135 lbs is incredible! Just looking at her, I thought, she's got to weigh 135 lbs. I could just see the weight difference from last week. 99 lbs in 15 weeks is AWESOME!

Kelly, oh my goodness, she was so afraid of being voted off, of not making the finale - and she DID IT! WOW!!! Her attitude and confidence have so greatly improved. She hasn't become cocky, but you can tell she's finally beginning to feel good about herself. That is fantastic. And three weeks in a row, she and Ali beat the boys! What an achievement. And to lose 13 lbs at this stage for a woman. That ROCKS! I am so incredibly proud of her. (We have a severe thunderstorm warning /tornado warningin our area, so I did not get to see what Jillian said to her after watching her video due to the news breaking in. Would someoneshare that with me?) I am so glad that Jillian had a true black team representative make it to the finale. To think that Bob hand-picked his team and in the end, they still came up short the last several weeks to the finale. Hmmmm....

Mark truly does seem to have changed on the program into a more considerate person. Roger seemed, in large part, to be the glue that held his team together. He never fell below the yellow line until tonight. Roger did not seem to change much, but his competitiveness did shine through these las few weeks in his attitude and what he said (at least what the program showed him to say.)

I'm having a difficult time selecting one of them for the finale. Truly, I want one of the girls to win this and Roger does have more room to lose more weight (congratulations to him also on losing more weight on campus than any other BL contestant.) I just don't know. Is anyone else in the same boat? Or do you have your mind clearly made up?

I'd love your comments.

Finally, WAY TO GO BL MPMU WINNERS!!! That is so great! Of course, I wish more of my friends could have won because there are so many of you who did outstanding jobs and if we could have voted, like we get to tonight, that would have been fun to see the results. I am really proud that Gayle and Stefanie made it. They did go over and above in setting up weekly phone calls (although we had church those evenings and weren't able to participate, it was nice to know that we had the opportunity.) I hope each of you has a great time in LA and at the finale.

Gotta get a little one to bed now.

ttfn,

Tammy

April 07

Weigh-in Day - 4/7/2008

Justin: 206.0 lbs - up .6 lbs from last week (and 1.4 lbs from his birthday.) He has to do a lot of walking this week at work, so I am sure he will be back down next week.

Tammy: 201.6 lbs - down .8 lbs from last week, but still up .4 lbs from the week before that.

Justin was disappointed in his weight gain this week, especially since he nearly hit the 20 lb weight loss point by his birthday. He is doing great and looking great and will be back on track this week.

I did get some pictures of him in the vest and slacks of his three-piece suit. Everything fits him fine now. I was trying to get a full-length picture of just him, but the baby (Daddy's girl) wouldn't have it. She "ran" to him just as I snapped the picture, but by the time the flash went off, there she was, he looked down, and I had jiggled the camera, but we had to leave directly after that, so I didn't have time for a redo. He does look mighty handsome, though. (I asked him the other day how long it had been since he had had three girls vying for his attention at once.

)

I wish I had gotten below 201.2 this week at least, but at least I did lose some of the weight I gained the week before. <Whew!>

For me, personally, I have 2 immediate goals: GET BELOW 200 lbs, doggone it! and for us as a team to weigh LESS than 400 lbs combined. That day is coming soon, I know, but it is just that it is so close to being within our grasp, that it is a little frustrating. Oh, well, that's all the more incentive.

Challenges: Terri, I am now up .8 lbs toward our 30 lb weight loss goal by July 5, which is 30.8 lbs to lose by then. I am still determined to do that and I know we WILL get there.

As for the 15 lb weight loss by the end of May challenge that Justin and I each signed up to do, Justin is down 4.0 lbs overall and I am down 2.4 lbs overall. This one is a closer term goal. I am determined to get there.

***

Please keep Terry and her son Jeremy (http://tweetynut.spaces.live.com) in your prayers. For more information, you can see the blog I posted last night quoting from Mark and her site and from Jim and Christi's.

Blessings to each of you this week,

Tammy

April 06

Talking about We Need Your Prayers

Please pray for Mark and Terry and Terry's son Jeremy. See below for more details.

If you are able to help, Christi has set up ways to help. There is a link to that below, also...

Quote

We Need Your Prayers

I wanted to add the paper that the Rock Hill paper has it on their front page online, http://www.heraldonline.com/ Fire uprooted 12 at Pepper Ridge Apartments. The Picture is the back of the apartments and their apartment is the one on the left and that is my son's bedroom window on the top floor with no roof.

Thanks from the bottom of my heart for everyone's concerns and comments, I have read them and will reread them later. But right now, We need all the prayers that can be sent up on our behalf. We just got back home. Was woke up this morning at 7:00 by my mother in law, she had her cordless phone, we don't have a land line only a cell phone that I turn off at night to charge. Well for that part will never do that again. So on the phone was my ex husband, my son Jeremy's dad. Well he informed me that Jeremy's apartment had a fire, and that he needed me, but he assured me that he was okay. So after a 45 min drive to my son, I actually lost it on the drive. But made it there, to see no apartment but a hole that used to be my son and his roommate apartment. I have never experienced this feeling before. Everyone was okay, he woke up with his room in flames, ran out his back door to the back porch and turned around and his room was gone, so he was able to go thru the doors from the porch to their living room to wake up his roommate, and then got everyone else out of their apartment. He only had on his boxer shorts. But he lost everything except for his boxers and a SUV that he has no keys for. But he is okay, we took him shopping for shorts, since we only can get pants from a tall shop, he has to have 36 length. Neither of them even had shoes, it was just, one of those I can't believe this happened to him. His whole work was in that place. He will be okay, with all the support of us to help him get thru this time. The red cross set them up for 3 nights and they should have a new place, with nothing in it. But he knows that he can come home, our door is always open. But I can't see him doing that. He is strong, but this morning he looked like my little boy that really needed his mom to take care of him. I told him, you being alive, which they have no idea how he got out. I know how! This gave me a reality check to my life.

I want to say thanks ahead for your prayers.

This has helped me get over worrying about myself, God has a plan I just need to listen better.

I really love you guys

Terry

Quote
Do You Know Mark And Terry? Post 1
If you know Mark and Terry - you know that Terry's son was in a fire - lost everything but his life, and a pair of boxer shorts he was wearing. He went back into the apartment to make sure everyone else got out. He is fine.
I'm going to post this three times today - and hopefully, anyone that is of a mind to help out will see this.
I want to take the pressure off her for the messages about the giving this group is capable of giving....but please, go to their site http://tweetynut.spaces.live.com and give them encouragement, love and support! You can also read the blog about the fire, and that Terry had a very bad week, and this topped it off. She's greatly appreciative of all the love and support poured out. You all are great!
I have Terry's paypal account - and I want to donate something to her to give to her son. Any little thing would help.
If you are so inclined - I have a few ideas: Trying to keep things private:
1. If Terry is ok with it, I'll give out her paypal account to those requesting it, or you can ask me for my pay pal account and I can combine the gifts and send them to her (I'll give you a reckoning and her a list so you can confirm that I gave it to her). This would be the most immediate method to enable her to help her son get back on his feet. He's tall, and has to go to specialty stores to get his clothing. And, he lost all the important paperwork that we all have - and has to replace that, as well as anything basic to live with. These are things that only cash will help with.
2. Gift cards - to stores like Walmart, Target, or anywhere that he could obtain the items needed to live. Think about places you shop. If you go to places you get gas rewards, you can earn gas discounts by buying cards there! (I know, a little cheesy - but anything that helps others help works for me!).
3. I'm not sure about items - but if you have items that you might like to ship - send me a message describing them - and I'll see if they would be good for Terry. She's going to be overwelmed with stuff and this way I can combine things into one and help reduce the message flood. Then we can work on privately getting shipping instructions.

So - if you are inclined, let me know - if you want, here's my e-mail address: christartist@wildberrypatch.com
And - thank you!
In His Hands and under His wings,
~Christi

7:07 PM | Add a comment | Read comments (2) | Permalink | Blog it

April 04

New Photos - April 4

Today we went to pick up our son's tuxedo. That was fun. Of course, he looked very handsome - particularly once the pants were let out three inches so he didn't look like he was expecting a flood. I put pictures up of him trying the suit on and of the way his sisters entertained themselves while they waited on him to get ready. Our "princess" daughter LOVED the 5-way mirror and did not want to leave "her dressing room." The baby followed suit. The clothing store played 50's and 60's music that both girls enjoyed dancing to. It was a hoot! Especially when I realized the older daughter was doing the Monkey, which she figured out on her own.

When we got back, Justin and I got ready and went out to eat at our local bar and grill (just tea to drink). We got to the dance around 8:00. It was fun. Justin said he would take a dance class with me so he could learn a few new dances. I think that would be SO much fun. I took a dance class in college, but I haven't gone country and western dancing in so long, I could really use the refresher. The band is hoping to do this monthly, so next time, we will take the children since it is family-oriented. Our older daughter will love getting to dance with Daddy.

They had just sung "Happy Birthday" to Justin, we danced another song (the ones for which we have pictures posted), then at the end of the song, Justin got paged to go into work - he's on call this weekend. Fortunately, the dance was only going on another 15 minutes, but I am sure some people wondered why we got our pictures taken and left so abruptly, but I am sure they also saw Justin on the phone and figured we had to take care of the kiddos (our son babysat for us tonight as his b-day gift to Dad) or something.

Well, it's late, but I do hope you take a look at the pictures. (The new ones of our children are under "Justin and Tammy and Children"). I did not realize until I took Justin's Lodge photo that his shirt is WAY too big on him now. It had extra folds where there was no Justin anymore. Isn't that great?!? You may not be able to tell in this edited photo so much, but I had to edit it this way so it wouldn't look so baggy. I am so proud of all he has done so far. We need to go get him some more jeans asap since the ones he has now generally have a tendency to want to fall off.

Monday is weigh-in day, so I'll be checking in then for certain, if not before. Have a great weekend!

Tammy

April 03

Justin is 40 today!

Justin is officially 40 today! Yea for Justin! Birthday cake

He weighed 204.6 lbs today. Not bad at all. He's lost .8 lbs since Monday and is only 4.6 lbs from his goal of being below 200 lbs by today. Not bad, not bad.

He has a meeting tonight, so we will be celebrating tomorrow evening. Our son is going to watch the girls for us so we can go dancing at the local community center - non-smoking building works for me. We haven't been out dancing together in a long time. I am really looking forward to it.

Then Saturday, our son goes to his first prom. I'm probably as nervous as he is to see him all decked out in his tux.

That reminds me, I have to pick up more batteries for taking pictures. Camera

I DON'T want to miss this moment!

Have a great weekend folks!

Tammy

April 02

Biggest Loser Episode

I was so thrilled to get to see some of my BL friends from the MPMU on the show! That was terrific! I saw Tammy and Terri as well as Kelley and Kristie. It was so cool to think, "Hey, I know them!" It was really cute, too.

Regarding the challenge, that was one tough workout, I felt like I was going to be out of breath just watching them during the competition. That was kind of Mark to wait for Ali. Could you believe after ALL that, she still had the energy to carry him piggy-back to the finish line?!? Wow! She is one tough lady in a competition! I was also so proud of Kelly for staying ahead of Roger as long as she did and she didn't give up. What a trooper! It's tough running against men.

I have travelled across the International Date Line before. That is a really tough flight to endure. They lost time and you tend to swell on flights. It's a shame that they (comparatively) lost so little or gained - but many of us doing this in the "real" world know exactly what that is like. It's tough and frustrating. While Yoga is a great workout for muscle toning, it is not what I would consider a great workout for losing fat. Doing that in addition to a regular workout would have made more sense to me, personally.

I do think that Jay looks wonderful after losing 100 lbs. Good for him. With Mark and him being in the competition this long and Mark still being in it, there is no reason that if Mark does win, that he wouldn't share the pot with Jay. I'm still rooting for the girls, though. With all that she has lost so far, for Ali to still be pulling those weight loss numbers is outstanding. And Kelly has been the underdog for such a long time, I think she has grown accustomed to that position and does well in it. It certainly gives her more incentive to work out harder and not give up.

I think they will have a really hard time the next week. For one, travelling that far east, while they will gain a day, really wears a person out. I know I always had a harder time travelling east than travelling west. Also, trying to do this last key week without a trainer will be extra tough, but it will show what they have truly learned in working with the trainers and their own personal dedication. How hard can they push themselves without a trainer there, and so forth. Should be interesting.

Have a great week!

Tammy

April 01

Flashing Lights

I did everything I could to procrastinate about calling the optometrist yesterday, but after I finished everything I needed to do and still had flashing lights in my vision - now in both eyes, I called. My family optometrist recommended an opthamologist. They got me in at 8:30 this morning. Justin was so sweet, he took a day off work to take me. Fortunately, it is just matter of getting older. The vitrious gel can become more fluid as we age and cause flashes - it could also cause my retina to tear, so I am going to "keep an eye on it" (ha!) The opthamologist said they should go away in 2 weeks, if not contact him. If I get a bright flash with "spiderwebs," contact him right away. Aside from that, my eyes are very healthy, yea! I am really glad that Justin did take me because I could not see at all well with my eyes dialated. I thought a deer that had been hit and was on the side of the road was a coyote. My vision was that fuzzy.

We worked in the garden when we got home. Our radishes and squash are already coming up. I think some of our cucumbers are also coming up. I'm so excited!

I'll check-in at some point after Biggest Loser.

l8r.