[analyst]

Between the two of you I'm such a serious party pooper. I NEVER have anybody over to my house. I'm a dud.

Both kiddos are getting new furniture. Aaron was using Gary's old furniture that he had as a child and Maddy had all of my college stuff. We sold all of it at a garage sale 2 weeks ago.

Of course, since we NEVER buy new furniture (Gary's dad has made us some beautiful pieces though) we didn't realize there was a possibiliy of a back-order. We were finally ready to purchase (and we did, before we even moved), but the furniture kept getting delayed.

Today, finally, Maddy has some furniture in her room. Too busy to get it all done today. Jr. Olympics start tomorrow.

Send good fibes to Aaron.... think happy thoughts. This is a big meet for him. He was injured last Saturday and received stiches in his shin. He hasn't been in the pool since. A bit nervous about it. Dr. said not to submurge it for 1 week. Gary and I decided 1 week was meant to be a work-week. Ha Ha

Deb - How did the kids like being without you? Did they enjoy thier time in AZ?

Kaybee - Check in with us. I know you're posting SB stuff w/some other folks ('cause you told us so), but ya gotta check in gal!

[KayBee]

Hi Ladies!

I'm starting to get out of the habit of being on the computer so much since I left A~S. We had a great time at the lake this year but it went by scary fast! Now we are finalizing the details for our Orlando trip in October.

We went to my brother's house yesterday to say good-bye to Shari's niece who went with us on our vacation. She spent a month with Gary and Shari and is from Minnesota. We had a nice day over someone ELSE's house for a change!

Gary and I bought our plane tickets. I found a great price at AirTran - all 8 of us are flying roundtrip/non-stop to Orland for $1,190.40! That's $148 each. That is an awesome price. We also reserved a 12 passenger van. There is no "inbetween" from a minivan that seats 7 to a full size van that seats 12 or 15. We also have to think about all the luggage! It's a relief to get those details done. Now all we have to worry about is the park admission - we want to go to three - Magic Kingdom/Epcot, Universal, and Typhoon Lagoon (Disney Waterpark).

I've been getting back into the groove at work after being on vacation and then going straight to conference in Philadelphia. I haven't gotten back on SB yet and no exercise to speak of lately. I get so tired of thinking about it and worrying about it. I didn't gain any weight back from vacation so I'll get back on track.

Frank is going on travel a lot in the next couple of weeks. I have no plans for next weekend which is nice. The weekend after that (Aug 11) we are going to Lake Anna for the first time in three years. I'll get some great pictures of us boating and tubing.

Today I'm taking Kamryn to see Hairspray. It is playing in my hometown (45 minutes from here). I'm going to stop at my mom's and pick up Aunt Louise. She wants to see the movie too. I've heard it is really good. Okay - that is the update on me. Sorry for the absence. Everything is fine - just a busy summer as usual and I'm a little down about my weight and the ebb and flow of my motivation for doing something about it.

I'll stop in more because I do feel better when I "talk" to you and keep up-to-date on your lives!

Have a great Sunday and rest of the week!

[analyst]

It's been pretty busy here as well.

Aaron did fabulous at Long Course Jr. Olympics. Even with stiches in his leg! He has accumulated a handfull of qualifiying times for the Western Zone Swim meet during the season and and one very special Priority Time. Very fun stuff.

Lots of traveling for me. Swim meets every weekend; Chico, Roseville, Redding and Farmingtong, NM (which is much more than normal).

We were going to skip the championship meet that's being held in Redding this weekend, but the Zone coaches said all participants on the team need to be in the water. Well...... our regular FRAC coaches will be at the Redding meet, so no practice unless we participate in the meet. And since Aaron hurt himself the week prior to JO's, he hasn't really been in the water much at all for practice. Long story short, we are going to Redding this weekend. Sheesh. We fly out of Sacramento to Farmington on Monday morning. I'm gonna be BEAT!

We were going to drive, but the zone team didn't accept as many kids this time so they have extra plane tickets. We are hopping on board and flying with the team. I'm happy about that. Not happy about the extra $$, but happy we won't be driving for so many HOURS!

Glad we are all checking in still. Weight wise, I'm the same. Hoping to figure it out seriously upon my return from NM.

Haven't seen any movies this summer with the kiddos. Been really a slow one for us.

Did go to Sunsplash in Roseville yesterday. The kiddos liked that.

Buh Bye

[nursedebra]

Bummer, I work this weekend. Otherwise, I'd come crash your swim party... NM??? Wow!! That sounds major league to be going to another state. Good luck, Aaron!!

Guess what I did? Finally went to work out at my new gym. Yeah me!!!!

And I vow to get Katerina into something this Fall. I was broke last year and so undecided about dance, gymnastics, or swimming. And now I wonder about soccer. But I'm thinking gymnastics. She is just so good at it and it also incorporates some dance. And my gym has a pre-swim team that sounds perfect. Maybe that too, just to see how she does. She can swim forever and she is very "teachable" in that she'll do strokes the way she should and all that. I just have absolutely no idea if she is fast. And for years we did swim lessons but it's now been a couple of years so I'm sure her strokes are rusty. But she could live in the water, just loves it. Of course, she could live at the gym too. If only money and time were not of concern!

Summer school started this week. And we went out today and bought backpacks and school supplies. The girls and I are planning to do some clothes shopping tonight.

Back to work tomorrow night.

Deb

[analyst]

Back from Redding and up late packing for NM.

This trip to Redding was much different than the last one. This was a whole team championship meet and required A LOT OF MY F R E A K I N ' TIME! Argh....... I truly liked it last time when it was only me and the kiddos and I didn't have any responsibilities. A lady of liesure who could visit w/ my buddy.

The kiddos asked if we were getting together. They were disappointed that we were too busy to manage it this trip. We left the meet early today so we could make it home at a reasonable hour. I have lots left to do!

One of the little boys who Aaron swims against in Chico didn't get accepted to the Western Zone Swim Team (no qualifying times). We were really hoping he would squeek in, but no luck. We really like him and his family. Anyhow..... He turned his Zone dissappointment into a victory this weekend by beating Aaron for the High point award at the meet this weekend.

Aaron has won it 2 years in a row, both times it came down to the last race of the day - - 50 free. Same thing this year, except that Conner beat Aaron and thus, the high point award. A humbling experience for my son, but a really thrilling one for his friend and competitor. Aaron has been earning 1st place and Connor 2nd for the last 3 years. This was a really fun thing for Connor. Is it bad for me to be happy for the other kid? Yikes.

Okay, I've really got to stop wasting time. I NEED to get everything packed and ready. We leave at 6:30 a.m.

Talk to you in a week.

[nursedebra]

Just lost a long post. Hi buddies!

[analyst]

Back from NM.

Farmington is not a place we'll visit again. Nothing to do. Yucky landscape. A very poor community (State).

Things Gary, Maddy and I did while Aaron was with his teamates:

Aztec Ruins (NM)
Four Corners (NM, AZ, CO, UT)
Mesa Verde, CO
Durango, CO

Aztec Ruins took about 1 hour.

Four Corners was lame. It was out in the middle of the dessert (ugly dessert, not pretty AZ dessert) and there was nothing there but a slab of concrete. I had a much grander picture in my head of what Four Corners would be. No running water, no town, nothing. Just some Native Americans trying to sell their homemade jewelry. We purchased of course, but dang. I was dissappointed.

Mesa Verde was great. It was a last minute decision and we only saw a small portion of the National Park. We could go back and visit. It was beautiful.

Also spent some time in Durango. It's a resort town. It's where our flight landed and departed from. A REALLY small airport. The annual art fair was taking place downtown so we got to walk the streets and see bunches of art. It was something to do.

Aaron didn't have a good meet. It was the first time he's had to really deal with dissapointment. On a positive note, he did swim really fast in his relays and earned two NRT's (national reporatable times). That was really fun to see.

Hope you both are well.

[nursedebra]

Sorry it wasn't the best trip in the world. Our good friends (Tanya & Christopher, originally from Malaysia then Bay Area) recently moved to Denver. I'm sure we'll be out to visit and Dan had some trip itineraries planned from there, one of which is 4 corners. Maybe we'll pass that one.

I'm sure that Aaron had lots of strong competition, it was probably a good experience for him to be in such a meet and he'll only do better next time.

Nothing exciting around here. I've been sick, from exhaustion or a stomach bug, not sure. I am looking to switch to days. I loved nights and then all of the sudden stopped being able to switch over to a day schedule on my days off. Very much lack of sleep for days on end. I need to get my body back to a normal schedule. Wish me luck getting hired to days.

Just got the motorhome all doctored up, thinking we might camp for a few days later this week but it just failed it's smog check. Dang. Next summer we will have a lot of camping to make up for.

Oh, Kaybee, I talked all about your upcoming trip in that one post I lost. In summary, sounds like you will have a blast and I'm looking to do a similar (CA based) one in the next year or so.

Tomorrow marks 20 years of marriage. Where oh where does the time go?? I'm 40, now have been married 1/2 of my life.

Deb

[analyst]

Happy Anniversary to Deb and Dan! Wow, 20 years. What an accomplishment.

Gary and I have been together 20 years this year as well. We started dating when I was 16, and yes, the math means I'm 36. We dated 5 years, celebrated 15 years back in May. I totally agree..... how the time flies!!!!!!!

The kiddos are worried about starting a new school on Monday. Honestly, I'm nervous for them as well. I think we are going to do some extra special school shopping to ease the transition.

My house is a disaster. We've been here 10 weeks now and I'm nowhere near having it 'pulled together'. We've been WAY too busy this summer.

Took the kids to see Harry Potter 5 yesterday. I'm not a potter fan (a rarity I know), however, I do admit the flick was entertaining. I fell asleep while watching HP1 both times I tried watching it. Figured it wasn't for me if I couldn't stay awake!

Count down to Billy Banks Tae Bo and Winsor Pilates. Yep, my infomercial purchases will be getting used starting Monday. Going to work on getting the Life Cycle machine and the BowFlex upstairs by Sept. 1st.

Dry goods are stocked up, fridge is working properly (knock on wood), looks like healthy living is a "GO".

Good luck getting hired on days. Not sure what type of employment I'll be having up here in the hills. But will certianly be keeping my eyes and ears open.

[nursedebra]

Kaybee?????!!!! Missing you!

Been good this last month, watching what I eat and working out. I've also been sick with something the last couple of weeks, symptoms including nausea and lack of appetite. That all said, I'm still happy to report that I lost 10 pounds in a month for my total weight loss now at 40 pounds. I'd like to hit 50 pounds by my b-day (9/29).

Starting a new school would be nerve-wracking but they'll be fine, you know that. My kids are ready. This is the only week where they were home all week instead of some kind of program for part/all of the week, and they have been BORED! Funny.

Deb

[KayBee]

Hi Ladies!

Sorry for the long absence. I can't believe how fast this summer has flown by! We went to Lake Anna this past weekend and Kamryn developed one of her now infamous ear infections. I've been off work all week! It has been a horrible ordeal like August 2005 where she almost was hospitalized. In summary:

- Took her to the doctor on Monday, diagnosed with swimmer's ear. Got drops and Tylenol 3 for pain.
- Pain got worse so I took her back to the doctor on Tuesday. Was able to see an ENT. Spent 5 hours at the clinic because she was a "walk-in". I couldn't get through on the phone. Kam's ear was swollen shut so the ear drops were not getting to the infection. ENT inserted a wick so that drops could travel down the wick into her ear. Got new drops, oral antibiotic and more Tylenol 3.
- At 4:15 pm, ENT called and said he wanted her on different drops.
- On Wednesday, I ran to the pharmacy to get the new drops. Started to have periods where she was the normal Kamryn but then would get hit with ear pain.

Thursday she was definitely on the mend but still getting the pain - not as frequently or for as long. She finally slept through the night last night for the first time since Sunday. I'm having the ENT refer us for custom-made earplugs. She swims too much to risk this again. She didn't get an ear infection all last summer so I was hopeful that we could stay on top of it. I don't want her to ever go through this again.

I've been in a funk this summer - partially from hormones (peri-menopausal), partially from adjusting to new job, partially from utter disgust at my weight and lack of motivation. I was doing so well on SB and it pulled me out of the funk because I could tell I was losing weight and feeling better. I've been lazy about getting back on track with it since we got back from the family vacation to the lake in NY (not to be confused with Lake Anna which is in VA).

Part of the reason I was success with SB is I was able to go get what I need from the grocery store at lunch or after work. Since getting back from vacation I have been taking Tony to and from teen college and it has been hot as hell in the evening (in the 90's and humid). All I want to do is go home, take my clothes off and lay on my bed under my fan.

I'm going to go back on Phase 1 of SB on Monday. I'm going to get myself ready for it on Sunday. Don't think that I have been going to the other forum...I haven't been there since early July and don't plan on going back. They were nice but I'm not really connected to them.

Deb - I'm so happy that you have been able to accomplish what I am desparately struggling with...40 lbs WOW. I'd like to be back on track and losing when we go to Orlando in October. That is only 8 weeks away. I just CAN NOT still be at this weight and in limbo when we go to Orlando.

Analyst - Do you have any pictures of your new house. Are you liking it? Are you going to sub at the new school? My kids are in different schools right now - 5th and 7th grade - and both schools got new principals this year.

My kids start school on August 28th this year. Next week is Kamryn's last week at day care forever! I'll be here when they get on the bus in the morning and then will be home about 45 minutes after Kamryn gets off the bus in the afternoon. I work 10 minutes from home. It will be nice not to pay the $125 a week for full time care and $95 for before and after school care. I hated paying $95 for an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon - 10 hours per week!

Okay - I have to get in the shower. Once I'm out of this funk - I'll come visit the forum more often. I'm working on it. Once I get back on track with SB and feel better about myself I know the funk will go away.

Have a wonderful weekend and check out my new pictures on the blog!

DiGeorge Family Blog

[nursedebra]

Back to school time, kiddos are all around me doing their homework. I so hope this year is less frustrating with Nathan.

It's my Friday, first time I'll have worked a full shift in a few weeks. Last week, I volunteered to go home 4 hours early on my Monday (we were over-staffed) and then I had my Friday off for my anniversary. The week before that, I got called off on my Monday (it's voluntary) then was sick for my other two days. I was REALLY sick. I had thought that I'd been feeling ill from working nights but turns out that I was just plain SICK. It's helped in the weight loss department but not worth it!

So good to hear from you Kaybee!

Deb