@MusicCandy @SadMe70 A place to communicate

goats and chickens! sounds like a mini farm. I grew up week-ends at my grandparents farm-N,C. It was a greeat experience.

rachael is my special needs daughter.she is 33, lives at home and goes to day support most days- she is happy, but physically needs a hand for balance. but she LOVES the pool. /so we go 2-3 evenings a week. good for her and me. We went again this evening, She splashes mostly and "chatters" to her friends- same people come most nights. you can't understand most of her words, but the folks who are regulars kid around with her and she laughs a lot. Mentally, around 5, but she understands what you say. Light of my life and my responsibility---- sometimes that is heavy.

I know about the night snacks- it is emotional comfort- in bed with a good magazine article-- confession I had my preschool music classes today and that is some exercise and adreleline just to keep it going on trrack.. I had my protein shake today and got in a 30 min walk along with the 30 min. pool, but it was an "off" day- a struggle. I had back pain and just generally sluggish. But- we got thru it- you and me- and Thanks Be to God-- have a restful night and i'll ck in with you tomorrow.

Rachael sounds lovely! I had an uncle with fairly severe Down's syndrome and after my grandparents died, my aunt was his caretaker for another 20 years. He also about 5 mentally and his speech was very hard for someone to understand if you weren't around him regularly. We lived nearby and he stayed with us when she was away. I understand how much is involved in caring for an adult child with special needs. He lived to be 57, fairly old for someone born in the 40's with Down's. There wasn't any kind of support back then. My friend has a daughter with Down's and she had PT/OT and all kinds of stuff from the beginning.

A preschool music class sounds so fun! I work at an elementary school with K-2 kids and they are (mostly!) so sweet. I am happiest when I am there. A job where you get hugs from little kids is the best.

Yesterday was an unusual day for me since I spent most of it at the hospital. I still ate pretty well, took healthy snacks with me for lunch. Had too much chocolate in the evening. In the morning before we left I did Holly Rilinger's Beefy Cardio video, 12 minutes. While my husband was in surgery I walked outside for about 15 minutes.

Hi buddy,

I hope the surgery went well - how long will he be in the hospital? That puts a lot more on you I'm sure. My fiance , who lives with me, had a hip replacement this past June and was in therapy for months after that. He gets around Really good now though!

You were smart to take some healthy snacks along and get in a walk during the wait. I do that too - I cannot sit for a long time anyway.

I had a pretty good day today . I walked 15 min in the sunshine and did 20 min. strength arms at the gym. Now I'm at work and I usually get a fair amt. of walking here if we are busy - but not so far. I ate a bagel, a big one, after I said I didn't want it. O well. I still have my protein shake to have later. I'll be here all night. I hope you get some rest tonight - taking care of a loved one from surgery is draining all by itself. Take care of yourself.

Hello, Buddy Sadme - I missed you! I know it's a lot with your husband just having surgery , and getting all the animals in from the Cold!

I can't belive it was so warm and now almost freezing. I worked today and I did not have a protein shake - but I did have a high protein meal amd exercised - stair climbing at work for 40 minutes total. Sunday - I may or may not be able to ck in. Then I'm going to Shenandoah Valley Monday afternoon thru Friday for a Thanksgiving break with my fiance, and then my Mom one day - a resort (yurt!) so I won't be cooking. My first day off since Memorial Day - YEA!

So I may be offline most of next week, but know I am still thinking of you and hope you are doing OK. We will check back in when we can,

peace out, Candy

Hello! The surgery went well. It was outpatient so he came home Thursday. Then Friday he was leaning over in his desk chair to get something that fell on the floor and the chair fell over and he fell on the floor and pulled a muscle in his back. He had to crawl across the room to get to something that he could pull up on (I was at work). He thinks he did not re-injure his spine. I ate a lot of candy that day but I did exercise at the Y after work.

Saturday was very bad. The worry about him really hit home. My dad came home from rehab on Friday after being there over a month after a fall of his own, and the rest of my family had Thanksgiving on Saturday and I was wishing I was there. I was lonely and overwhelmed and my depression just ate me up all day. I cried and cried and had no energy. I didn't eat too badly but did no exercise.

We are having dinner tonight at our favorite restaurant with our older son and his new gf that we haven't met. I'm looking forward to seeing him so I'm hoping that will help me keep it together today. I slept in really late (just now getting up). I see sunlight outside so that will help when I go out to the animals, and maybe I can get some exercise in here at home.

We actually spent last weekend out near Luray! It was the best time I've had in a long time. I love it out there. I hope you have a really lovely vacation!! I will keep posting because I look forward to it every day, but don't worry about checking in while you are gone. Just have a really good relaxing time. You deserve it!!

Good to hear from you sadme - I had a call back to work and took a minute to ck in with you. I hope you had a nice time with the new gf and son - that is always exciting! We all have bad days, so sorry you felt alone.. It is just COLD! We are going to Shenandoah Crossing in the Valley. I am looking forward to it for sure. I did not have a protein shake today, but I did go to church after working all night and that was refreshing. No real exercise, but I'll walk a lot when we are on our mini-vaca. Have a warm Thanksgiving and count your blessings.

Sunday checkin - ate well. Very nice meal with my son and gf at our favorite Indian restaurant. I found a longer Leslie Sansone video than the one I've been doing. It was a mile. Still not very long but it was fun.

Monday - got somebody to feed the animals on Monday mornings so I got to go to the Y this morning. Love starting my day with exercise! I had a lunch meeting at which there was pizza. I had a slice instead of the main course I brought for myself, but ate my yogurt and apple, and did not go back for a second slice even though I really wanted to! Ate some candy at work and at home. No depression today!!

I hope your vacation is off to a great start!

Tuesday - In the morning I did a 5 min walk workout and a 5 min abs workout, then yoga after work.

The kindergarten Thanksgiving feast was today at the school where I work. I ate my own healthy lunch but then had two pieces of pie :(

Dinner was healthy and I had my usual chocolate and wine afterwards (too much of both, but not horrible).

Wednesday - meals were good. Visited a chocolatier in Richmond with my son and not only snacked too much on choc but paid a lot for it :) We went on the Pipeline Trail which is not long at all so not really much exercise, but was so pretty and very good for me mentally. Have you been on that? It was neat! No other exercise.

Thursday - no exercise. I am really doing badly in the exercise department. Of course I ate a ton also. It was a happy day spent with my husband and kids though. No depression this whole week so far.

Friday - Did Holly Rilinger "beefy cardio" workout, 16 min, in the morning. I love morning exercise! My meals were good, but still doing badly snacking on sweets.

Saturday - took a 3 hour hike with my son in a national park I had never been to before. Had a really nice time! It was mostly flat so I only got out of breath 2 or 3 times on hills, so it was more of an endurance thing for me! Pretty creek running through it. I want to go back when it's greener there. I bet it is so pretty! Meals were again good. Snacking ok until evening - we went to a movie and I ate a bunch of candy.

I hope your trip has gone great!!