@MusicCandy @SadMe70 A place to communicate

Yea - you pulled it off! May they live happily ever after. . I can't wait to hear all the news. I am just plodding along with my food plan- seems like I can only get through 2 days on my list and then something goes ka-flooey and I have to figure out when to start back. Maybe i'll do that tomorrow. You enjoy your well deserved wine and movie and we wil catch up when you catch your breath. Hats off to you darling.

Regarding meal plans, mine is totally the pits, so I can totally relate! I'm 4 pounds up in the past 2 weeks and drinking too much again already. (Not getting drunk like I did that one night, just consuming waaay to many extra calories.)

After a very stressful week leading up to the wedding (too many things to go into and I just want to put it all behind me anyway!), we finally met her parents and aunt on Friday night for dinner. Somewhat awkward as would be expected, plus hampered by not speaking each other's languages, so relying on google translate which is far from perfect, but still it was pleasant.

The wedding day itself went quite well. My mom and I went to the hotel room where the fiancee, her mom, her aunt, and her "fake" aunt (mom's friend who lives here) were getting ready. They dressed us in our exquisite outfits. The fake aunt then whipped my very thin, fine, and uncooperative hair into the prettiest braid it's ever been in, which stayed in all day and didn't give me a headache, plus put some artificial flowers in it. My older son's gf hung out with us and was very sweet and helpful. The men were dressing in another room.

We all departed on time and got to the wedding venue. The civil service was quick but sweet, and then we did some Korean traditional ceremonial things, nicely coordinated by fake aunt who is the only bilingual one (besides the bride). Went to our friends' restaurant up in MD for a lovely reception. (On Friday my husband and I transported the 2-tier boxless cake to the restaurant without destroying it - yay us!) We all failed to remember to take pictures at the reception except for the cake cutting, but we have a ton of the wedding and Korean ceremonies.

On Sunday my husband and I, my son and his wife (!), her parents and aunt went to DC. Her dad wanted to see the Korean war memorial. He took flowers to lay there and it was very touching. The cherry trees were in blossom and I have never been to see that before, so that was a nice bonus. We had a very nice time with them in the more relaxed setting, and with just the small group. They are really lovely people. I am trying now to work myself up to going to Korea in Dec for the bigger traditional wedding ceremonies they are planning. I do not want to go for many reasons, but I do not want to offend these lovely people who came so far themselves.

More later on goat matters!

Wow and wow.. You not only pulled it off- you did a magnificent job. I am happy that the inlaws got to visit the memorial- those moments are so important. Just do your best to start getting back on track. too much wine- i can relate. It can be overwhelming just dealing with details; I know from experience. I am really really really going to get back on at least a 10 day plan,, today. It's only 1o days!! I tell myself.

You get a chance to go to korea!/! Think what you can share with your students. I think you will get more used to the idea as it gets closer. I know about the anxiety and all that- but this is a once in a lifetime chance that not many people get. I am so confident that you will love it, WAY more than you liked that car,,haha. Have a great Spring Monday.

I might like a trip to Korea more than the car!

Very long baby goat update:

Goat #1 had twins about a month ago - I think I might have mentioned that earlier. They are a boy and a girl, and are sweet and adorable.

Goat #2 had triplets the day before the wedding. I knew she was in labor but had a lunch to go to, so of course that 2 hour period is when she chose to kid. She had a stillborn girl and 2 boys. Typically the afterbirth comes partly out and may hang for an hour or so before delivery. She had not delivered it by that evening, so I was awake a lot worrying about her and the wedding. Then I had to leave her alone all day for the wedding, and she still had not passed it by that evening when we got back. The vet came out and gave her a shot of oxytocin and left us another shot. I sat there watching her heave for 2 hours with no luck. My husband gave her the shot and at 10 pm I just had to go to bed, though once again did not sleep well. In the morning it was finally out. She is fine and the 2 live kids are doing well. I wish I had been there in case the stillborn was alive and stuck. I might have saved it, plus the vet said that is what could have caused her contractions to stall before the afterbirth was out. Sigh.

Goat #3 was due last week in the Tues-Thurs time frame. By that weekend she was late and enormous. I was around ALL weekend, but she waited until Monday morning when I had to go back to work to go into labor! I sat with her for 2 hours before I left but she was early in the labor so nothing happened. My husband was able to get himself out there (he can't walk well) and stayed with her until she delivered the first of triplets. The lady who feeds the goats for me Mondays (so I can go to the Y) arrived just before she delivered the second one. That one turned out to be really big, and though the goat was able to handle it, I was glad somebody was there in case she needed help. She had a girl and two boys, and all are doing well.

I am going to spend a little time out there cleaning up some of the hay in the shed to hopefully get rid of any residual birth goop and avoid flies, etc.

I'll try to take some pictures while I'm out there so I can post some here!

Brief update on me - same old. Exercising ok, eating healthy meals, alcohol not bad, eating way too many treats so weight not budging.

I hope you are well!!

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Oh well,, so much for 5 days- I just can't seem to focus on staying focused- eating wise! I start out great, second day is OK and by day 3, it seems like something always happens unexpectedly and I don't follow the plan much at all. Then I feel confused on what is more important in the total plan and maybe do a couple of things, but not all. Then I ran out of treats, and of course saw a sale and bought more. More drama from daughter- some good things, some bad but it jusat distracts me so much and I get tired when I am involved with her "stuff". I'm tired now, but I forced myself to exercise and it was a lot harder to get going with that than usual.

I think I am going to have to pick no more than 2 things on my plan list and commit to them for awhile. Work is back on OT too so that drains my energy and resolve. And I am actually already stressed over my sisters coming. I hope you are having a good week - Ill look for your check in this week-end.

Hello! I am sorry to hear you are struggling with your plan. I am not doing that great either. Things keep coming up that keep me from getting in all my regular exercise. It happened this past week and already this coming week I won't be able to swim or hike. I am afraid my exercise is going to be really haphazard until school gets out. My eating was so-so. Alcohol consumption was pretty low at least. My stomach was bothering me again this week, so I went ahead and scheduled my 6-month checkup with the gastroenterologist for June which I had been planning to skip. I do see a pattern of my stomach flaring up if I deviate from cramming as much fiber into myself as possible, but it seems to take very little to throw me off and I don't understand why my system would be so darn sensitive.

It is cool that you helped with a home birth! Both of my boys were delivered by a midwife, and the second one was a home birth. Births are just awesome to watch, no matter the species! The baby goats are doing well! I think I have homes for the 2 females. Nothing yet for the 5 boys.

I understand about the treats going along with the wine! Chocolate and wine is such a good combination. I love fruit too but it is just harder to make that good choice at night. I have delicious, fiber packed mangoes that I love, but rather than take the time to peel one and get all messy eating it, I reach for the chocolate.

What do you think about doing 3-day rotations of food/alcohol goals? With all the stuff going on for you right now, maybe just doing the short bursts of good stuff with maybe a day off in between would keep you overall on a good path? Sounds like you do have lots of distractions between your daughter, your sister, your work OT, etc. Keep up that exercise though - I know that is your strong point and you've been consistent with that for so long!

I know you are having a lot of stressful stuff going on right now. Hang in there!! You can do it!!

Hi, I am happy to hear from you, as always. I got a note- in the mail- from one of my (homeschool) piano students saying what an awesome piano teacher I am, and wishing God's blessings for me. That really made my day . She is a little shy even though I've been teaching her for over 2 years. It is easier for for some of us to write than have an emotional conversation, I know how that is. Her parents are awesome too.

I sometimes think I will be struggling with this weight for-ever. But then I remind myself that it is mostly a product of so much stress in different directions, and a lot due to night working. Never enough sleep really. I read articles that the brain/body can only handle a limit of things that you have to "resist" and when that is reached, you just give in because you can't do any more. Like you, when I'm tired I can't peel a mango either. I realized that I had the wine and malted milk balls - just because I wanted to have that pleasure at that moment and nothing else would make me feel satiated. Sometimes we can get around it, and sometimes -not.

I hope your tummy calms down soon. We all need more fiber, but in your case it sounds like it's even more important. Food is medicine and I need to remind myself that too. Thank you for the 3 day suggestion. I make my brain crazy trying to figure out what will work long term. It is so nice to have you to bounce some of it away from my circular self talk, which doesn't help either.

I want to also encourage you Your school life is hard to work around getting the exercise you want/need and that will be over soon. I wonder if you are really getting more functional exercise anyway just tending to the animals, and being outside is good for you. I am going to try 3 for 3 and I'll let you know how that goes. You too- hang in there. We are in this together.

Hello my friend,

I hope you had a good week. I didn't exactly follow my plan for the 3 days - but I did do well on some things - especially the wine. I limited myself to 3 days for having wine and that will consume 1 bottle- then off 4 days. It's easier when there isn't a botte already opened

I did pretty well eating too even though not as strict as I hoped. I am not going to lose any weight this way, but at least I won't gain either. I am going to be stressed until my sisters come, and then there is the work night eating - but overall better than usual. I know I can commit to something more on my list after sisters visit- the main thing is I know I can limit the wine and that was a mental stumbling block. I make sure I can heat up water for herb tea as soon as I want something in the evening, and then the melatonis makes me sleepy faster. Fortunately we can't drink wine when we are asleep!! Exercise is the same, good. Fiance and I went on a hike around the river downtown Friday, and he scouted out some paths to Belle Island that we haven't tried yet. It is so pretty right there in the heart of the city.

Good vibes coming to you until I hear back how you are doing. I'm sure you are plenty busy with the babies and getting outside is good for every-body.

Hello! My week was about the same as the prior. Not much exercise, eating ok but not great, too many treats, and alcohol still not bad. The pollen has been hitting me hard. I've been stumbling around feeling so tired and/or drugged, lots of nose blowing, etc. My stomach was good this past week though. My weight is still up. I have only a few pairs of pants that I can wear to work. I have a big hike coming up May 19 to Old Rag and just had to order bigger shorts to wear. I bought some great ones last year that are lightweight for hiking and have zip-off legs (I like to have long pants on for the rock scramble part) but they are too tight now :( I keep telling myself that I will lose the weight when school gets out and things calm down. The weekdays fly by and then I am so tired I get nothing done on the weekends.

Sounds like you have done great with the wine! I totally agree that it is easier not to drink it if there is no open bottle. If I drink some on Saturday or Sunday and the bottle is not empty, I have a hard time leaving it for the next weekend. Keep up the good work with the wine! Three days on and 4 days off sounds like a great plan. That is pretty much what I have been doing and I think it helps with my sleep.

Hang in there on the weight issue. We are both in the same boat there too. It just doesn't want to come off. Like you said, the stress of things like your sisters' visit is not going to help. Hang in there until after their visit!! I do like the herbal tea also. On the rare nights when I am not too lazy or tired, I make chamomile from flowers and it tastes really good. Usually I just use a bag though, and I like that also.

I went on a short hike this weekend, about an hour, on a trail I had not tried in a park to the east of me. It was very nice despite the pollen causing a big headache. Other than that and feeding goats, I spent the whole weekend inside hiding from pollen, lying around reading my book. I got the laundry done and that's it. I did really enjoy the hike though! I never did get down to hike with my son any more in Richmond. It's been over a year since we did the Pipeline trail, which we both enjoyed.

I think I have homes for 2 of the babies, one boy and one girl from the same momma. I have to neuter the boy next weekend. I hate doing that. I need to put up ads for the rest of them. I'd like to place them by the time school is out, but they were born a bit later so they are younger and I might not be able to place them that early. I wanted to maximize my cheesemaking time.

I am hoping the pollen will ease up soon so I can stop walking around in a haze. I am taking Claritin, but I have yet to feel that "Claritin clear" they advertise!

Sending good vibes back to you!