A couple of things...

1. I lost 3.4 lbs this week! That's a total of 13.2! I'm on a roll. According to previous weight-loss history....I lose it quickly at first...and then s-l-o-w way down as the weeks pass. In the end, I think it's better to lose it slowly. What is most different about this time around is that, I have a goal! My goal is not just to lose the weight, but to actually run a 5K! Ok, you can get up off the floor now! I have decided to begin a new program called Couch-to-5K. I know that any kind of running program might seem pretty drastic for someone like me (who views exercise as a disease), but, you start out very slow and work your way up. I'm pretty excited about it, actually. I bought new running shoes today (haven't had a new pair of shoes in almost 3 years!)....they were on sale and I had a coupon. I now have a really nice pair of Women's Nikes for barely $17.

2. Friday night was the annual Father/Daughter Dance at school. This was Amelia's first time! She and Dan had a great time! I will post some pictures when I have a chance to upload them. Next week is Amelia's 6th birthday! I can't believe that exactly 6 years ago today, Dan and I were visiting a funeral home and cemetery as we were told that she might not make it once she was born. One of these days I'll have to write a post about her birth story...but for now, just know that she is a living, breathing, walking MIRACLE! I kid you not! I will forever be grateful to the Infant of Prague for her healing!

3. Speaking of Amelia....this afternoon while we were on our way to the shoe store, we passed a housing development near our home that has a huge brick-like sign stating the name of the neighborhood. As we passed by, Amelia shouts out....."Look mom, there's a purgatory stone...and it's a big one!" I was confused! "What is a purgatory stone, Amelia?", I asked. She replied, "You know, where they bury all the dead people!". I was still not getting it. Nathan had to clarify..."Mom, she means a 'cemetery stone'...you know...a HEAD STONE!" Oh, now I get it!

4. Not to be outdone by her sister....Olivia, when told it was time for bed, told me that she didn't want to go to bed...that she wanted to "stay up earlier" tonight! See....I'm not crazy! There really is a reason why my brain is mush most of the time!

5. THE SIXTH AND FINAL SEASON OF LOST AIRS IN JUST 2 DAYS!!!!

This & That

I've got both girls home with me today. Olivia has an appointment with an ENT. She's had 5 ear infections in the last 15 months, including an eardrum rupture about a month ago. In addition, she snores like a .....like a.......like....her grandfather (my dad)! Growing up, our entire neighborhood knew when my dad had gone to bed! Anyway, they are going to do a hearing test and then take a look at her tonsils. I don't really want her to have to endure surgery at four years old.

Amelia lost her voice yesterday. She says her throat doesn't hurt...but for the last 3 nights, she's awakened with a terrible headache that she states makes her eyes hurt. I figure it's time to have them both looked at....again.

Tonight is my second weigh in for Weight Watchers! I'm exited! I think I've done relatively well! I'm determined, even more so than last week! I'm trying to keep focused. So far, so good. My immediate goal is to lose about 28-30 pounds by the end of April. I think I can do it. I need to exercise more! I will talk more about that later...because I read a book once that gave me an

excellent idea about how to get fit and grow closer to God at the same time! I'm re-reading this book right now and will write a post on it as soon as I can.

Have a great Thursday, everybody!!!

UPDATE: Tonight's Dinner

Update!!!!! These were terrific!! I added 2 packets of Splenda to the dipping sauce to balance the sauce a little. I served them with Jasmine rice and stir fried zucchini. I will make this again!!!

This is what's on our menu for tonight! I found this wonderful website as I was searching for Weight Watcher ideas! The nutrition information and point values appear with every recipe! I also subscribed to the website and now I receive meal ideas in my email on a regular basis. Here
is the recipe for tonight's dinner....


Asian Turkey Meatballs With Lime Sesame Dipping Sauce
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 4 • Size: 3 meatballs • Calories: 229 • Points: 4.75 pts


1/4 cup panko crumbs
1-1/4 lbs 93% lean ground turkey
1 egg
1 tbsp ginger, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
3 scallions, chopped
1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
2 tsp sesame oil
Dipping Sauce

4 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
2 tsp sesame oil
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tbsp water
1 chopped fresh scallion


Preheat oven to 500°F.
Mix ground turkey, panko, egg, salt, scallions, cilantro, 1 tbsp soy sauce, and 2 tsp oil and mix with your hands until combined well. Shape 1/4 cup meat mixture into a ball and transfer to a baking dish. Repeat with remaining mixture. Bake until cooked through, about 15 minutes.

For the dipping sauce mix together lime juice, water, soy sauce, and remaining 2 teaspoons of oil in a bowl. Add scallions.

Transfer meatballs to a serving dish. Stir sauce, then drizzle meatballs with 1 tablespoon sauce.
Serve meatballs with remaining sauce. Chances are you won't use all the dipping sauce.
Makes 12 meatballs.

I'll let you know how it tastes!

Weight Loss Wagon!

Well, I'm back on the weight loss wagon...again! This has been a yearly thing with me ever since I can remember. Some years have been more successful than others. Motivation seems to be the key that, at times, has been missing. It seems to be harder than I thought to lose the weight I gained during cancer treatment (steroids), although, I haven't really tried that hard. I am (always have been) an emotional eater. When stressed...I eat. When happy...I eat.

You should know that I'm not all that motivated right now. "Resolved" is the word I'd use to describe my attitude currently. I'm happy that I've managed to lose 4.6 lbs this week...but I always do well the first few weeks. It's after that when I start to lose interest instead of pounds.
Keeping the cancer away is my real reason for starting this journey again! I need to do all I can to stay as healthy as possible. It also occurred to me the other day that losing some weight might help the HOT FLASHES! They are relentless, I tell ya!

So, I've added a weight loss ticker to the top of my blog. Hopefully, this will remind me every time I log on that I have a goal! I also added one on my side bar for double protection and accountability.

In the past, I've never really prayed about my weight loss. It seemed silly to me with all of the needs of the human race, to be praying for myself to be thinner. I've been thinking about this lately and I've decided that God DOES care! He cares about my health and He wants me to consider my body the temple of the Holy Spirit. I'm sure His desire for me is to live a long and healthy life so I can "be about His business". No one knows when their time is up. I surely don't know when mine will be....but....I should be just as ready to live a long healthy life as a short unhealthy one. Besides, all of my Weight Watcher buddies were glad to see me!

Well, here we go again!

I fell off....

...........the Weight Watcher wagon. My excuse is that I have an appointment next week with the oncologist and I'm very, very nervous! Sadly, I eat more when I'm stressed! It's too bad I'm not more disciplined in this area. I know that it's just a matter of making a choice to deal with my anxiety in another way. I'll weigh in again this Thursday and I'll be able to assess the damage. I'm holding out hope that it hasn't been a total bust.

In the meantime, I'll just concentrate on biting my fingernails and other ways of worrying until I get the all clear from my oncologist.

Remember, most loving Virgin Mary, never was it heard that anyone who turned to you for help was left unaided. Inspired in this confidence, though burdened by my sins, I turn to you for protection for you are my mother. Mother of the Word of God, do not despise my words of pleading, but be merciful and hear my prayer. Amen.

Uuuurrrrrgggggg!

Darn it to heck! I gained 4 pounds this week!!!

Never noticed before.

Since re-re-re-re-re-starting Weight Watchers recently, I've really tried to pay attention to everything I put into my mouth. This has kept me pretty busy!! However, I've noticed a few things that I now know has been an integral part in my weight gain over the years. In Weight Watcher "speak", we call this a NSV (non scale victory)! Here it is....

I finish my children's meals! There.....I said it! I never really noticed it before. While I'm cleaning off the table, if there is even a tiny morsel of food on their plate (that has not been partially chewed and then spit out!), I will finish it off! I can't believe I do this! I have good news though.....I haven't done this in almost two weeks! I am so proud that I have figured this out!

This truly is a NSV for me!!!

I'm not the only one who is thrilled to have figured this out though.......Katie (the dog) is pretty darn happy too....cause now the leftovers end up in her bowl!

Yet again!

I hesitate to even mention this on my blog...mostly because of pride, but here goes anyway....
I've started Weight Watchers for the umpteenth time! I've been very inspired by the book I'm reading called Walk Away the Pounds! Since chemo started and since I have begun the Arimidex, I think I've gained about 12 pounds! That's a lot of weight to gain in 7 months!
I bring this up mostly because I feel like, if I tell you about it, perhaps I can be more accountable. Does that make any sense?

W.W. is definitely not cheap! We don't have a lot of extra money laying around so this decision was well thought out. However, the registration is free right now and you get free E-tools. Dan and I decided that being healthy is a high priority for me right now. The healthier I am, the less chance for the cancer to return. I'm not going to do any before or after pictures for you.....too embarrassed (there's that pride again) for you to see the way I look. Perhaps you've noticed that there have been exactly TWO pictures of me on this blog! If and when I reach my goal weight....maybe I'll post a picture. Don't count on it though!

I am going to keep a running total of the weight that I lose on my sidebar. Encouragement and chastisement are both welcome! If there is anyone out there who wants to join me in this, just let me know...we can encourage each other.