Hey everyone, I guess you have all noticed that I am not a good blogger!
I do have an update to my last post.
I had gastric bypass surgery on April 1st 2013,   It was a long road, and very hard decision to make
but now that I have done it I must say I am very pleased with the results.  The surgery went very well and I have had no complications. I have lost 42 lbs. since surgery and 92 lbs. since last July.  I really fell good and have been exercising and lifting weights to help build muscle and to get into shape.  My knee is getting better as time goes on and the weight comes off.   I look forward to a great future, being able to do things that I would never do being so heavy and embarrassed about how I looked
not to mention how hard it was to do the simplest things without breaking out in sweat. I will add some photos later to show the different stages of weight loss but I will need some help form my kiddos because the pictures are not on my computer but on their phones or elsewhere.   

I have been having health issues the past little while ( namely, diabetes,high blood pressure, knee pain) and my weight  has been very out of control, mostly because I have been mindlessly eating and not exercising because of knee pain.  I have come to the decision to have gastric bypass surgery.  John is not comfortable with this, but I have thought about it a lot and have felt that I need to get help
before I have no more options.  I really want to be a good grandma to my grandchildren, I especially want to be a good wife and mother. I want to be able to do things with John as he is getting closer to retirement. I think it would be nice to go bike riding, walking, and other physical activities with him. I don't want to be a burden to him or anyone for that matter. I am too young to be confined to a wheelchair.  That  is where I see myself heading if I don't do something now.
My insurance will pay for the procedure if I take six months to work with the Dr. and dietician,physical therapy,and counseling.   I have begun the process starting in July and have been to track my food that I eat and to learn to chew it longer, to slow down and take my time to enjoy and let my stomach get full before I eat more.  I am trying to develop good eating habits. I am trying to be conscious of all that I eat.  I know that I should have done this all while I was raising my children so they could have better habits.I suppose there is no better time than the present to start.  So I will probably be keeping everyone posted as to what I am doing and when I have the bypass done.  I hope it will be done before the end of the year as our deductible is met now.
I have had a sleep study done and they have found that I have sleep apnea, which is no surprise because I am tired all the time.  I will rent a cpap machine until I can get this weight off. I hope I will not need it after that.  What a pain!
Since I have began keeping a food log I have lost 14 pounds and I have just started my exercise program and hope to get it off faster.  I am expected to lose weight before the surgery. They want want me to be in the best physical condition that I can before. It all helps.  John has said what if I lose 50 pounds or so and was wondering    if I would really need the surgery if I just kept losing like I am.  I have thought about that too.  I suppose I still have options then.  I know that it is a struggle to get down to a goal weight and keep it there, But this procedure is suppose to help get me there and with the things I learn while I am getting there, I hope that I will have developed some very good habits so that I won't gain it back. This surgery is simply a tool to help me.  I will still have to work
hard.  I don't want to be diabetic, and I don't want high blood pressure which I hope to reverse.  I hope my knee pain will go away as I lose weight also.  The knee may need other help but we'll take it one step at a time. So I am one month down and 5 more to go!
I will at some point, post before and after pics and along the journey too!  I really don't like myself too much right now to even post pictures so be patient.

Summer craft and catching up

Okay I am really  not a good blogger!  I just need to do this more often.
Any how, Winter was mild and spring has been warm and cool depending on the day!
I hope Summer is not the same. So John has been trying to eat better but he struggles the same as I do but he is a lot better than I am. I have a food addiction and I need some intervention and soon.
I found out that I have arthritis in both  on my knees and have had treatment in the left knee which was the worst.  If I don't over do it I have pretty good days.  Bicycling and using the elliptical machine is the suggested form of exercise the Dr. prescribed.  I  struggle to get to the gym but when I do I always feel better.   
I have been enjoying being the mia maid adviser. It is fun being in the Young Women's program.
I bought some dollar store composition tablets to make some journals for the YW for my lesson  this Sunday!  I bet you can't guess what we will be talking about? 
I have started selling stampin up products and will no longer be selling Close to My Heart products.  I found that I was buying more Stampin up stuff than CTMH so that is why the change. They offer so much more!
I really like Pinterest and have found this real cute idea for a craft so I had to make it right away! I will post a picture.
Lindsay gave me her camera for my birthday so now I have a camera. No excuses!  Right!

Over the holidays John was really interested in eating more healthy. David and his family were here and David was telling his Dad about the vita mix. John was real impressed so he purchased one for Christmas. It has been real nice in the fact that we can put our vegetables and fruits together to make some real fun concoctions that are healthy and tasty at the same time. I seem to have a hard time eating a lot of raw vegetables so this makes it nice.
We also watched Forks over Knives which is a documentary about the animal fat and protein in the standard American diet. It was very interesting. John has also purchased the book by Dr. Esselstyn " Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease" Since already having a heart attack and history of family problems thought this book would help to learn better ways of eating. It basically is a plant based diet. No animal fat or protein. It has taken a while for me to even consider this type of eating but have found that it hasn't been so bad. Of course I am not perfect at it and probably won't be, but have found that I don't have to count my calories and I don't have to worry about how much to eat, you just eat and when you are full you stop. I have found that my sugar cravings have gone away and I feel satisfied for a longer period of time. This is just the beginning for me of a long journey to change a whole lifestyle of many years.
I think one of the key things for me is to have foods made ahead that I can have ready to eat when I am hungry, so I don't revert back to a choice of calorie dense foods. Also to get the junk out of the house that will tempt me. the good thing right now is that our kids want to be healthy also so they are on board with it. Lindsay and Makayla still have their sweet tooth cravings and occasionally will make a naughty treat but for the most part we have support. If any of you have a great recipe that you are willing to share that doesn't have animal protein or fat please let me know . I think that will be the hardest part of the journey, to come up with healthy foods that taste delicious.

Today is a new day and Halloween is over! I must say Halloween was fun because we have some of our grandchildren here in town to celebrate with. Vella was a Butterfly and a real cute one at that. Her mom asked her how the butterflies walk, then she proceeded to do a silly little walk then laugh. We were all rolling from laughter. Mattix was a skeleton and Jake was a pumpkin. Once again I need to get a camera! They were so cute!

Our ward does trunk or treat down at the park below our house so I went down there for an hour to pass out candy and see all the cute Halloween costumes. I nearly ran out of candy. I know there was over 200 pieces in my bucket.

I guess tradition goes that we (I) make doughnuts for Halloween. I really didn't want too, but Cory really knows how to get me to do what he wants I suppose because I ended up making doughnuts again. I had already made some on Saturday for them.

I tried a new pizza dough recipe also which turned out really yummy! It reminded me of Pizza Hut's dough. Everyone made their own style of pizza! It tasted wonderful.

Lindsay and Makayla had work so they missed out on the fun! Or maybe they had their fun later!

catch up

Today is such a nice sunny day and it is October 18th 2011,

We have had a fabulous Fall this year!
John and I were able to take two mini vacations with friends this past month.
First we went with Mike and Linda Smith to Island Park. We rented a cabin
for three nights. We were able to go to the Lewis and Clark Caverns, and
It was even warm enough to float the river below the dam. We soaked
in the hot tub, we watched movies and had a very nice relaxing time.
Didn't see much in the way of wild life but it was so nice and the trees were changing
colors, so the drive was beautiful. We went home thru The Grand Tetons and Jackson,
to add variety to the trip.

The next trip was over Conference weekend. We went to Island park also.
This time we went with our friends Dennis and Peggy Mecham, Janice and Don Carlson
and Keith and Riva (can't remember their last name.) We stayed in Dennis's brother
inlaw Chad Buttars cabin. It was very nice and roomy and very enjoyable. There was a big screen TV to watch conference. We borrowed Doug's 4 wheeler and picked up one on
the way. Janice's brother offered for us to use his 4 wheeler, so all 4 couples had a 4 wheeler..
WE had fun riding the trails around Island Park, we rode up to Sawtell which is the big golf ball looking thing up in the top of the mountain. It is used for the Northwest Air traffic control of some type. This is what we were told. We had a fabulous time.
The two newest grand babies(Jake Logan and Mattix Jack) were blessed fast Sunday after conference. Emily and Jay and Boys came for a visit also for the occasion. It was nice to have them come. I can't believe Zach is a Senior this year! My how time flies. All of Emily and Jays boys have the Aaronic Priesthood now. They are not our little grandsons anymore! They are growing into fine young adults.
Lisa and I are going to Marla's on Friday. We are meeting with Debbie and Grandma Whiting, all to have a fun day of visiting and crafting.
I sure wish I had some pictures to share, I can't find my camera charger. Lame I know! I am not very good about taking pictures anyway.

So it has been forever since I posted anything. John has healed quite nicely since his accident.

Cory got married December 17 to Shaely Robinson. We now have a new daughter in law that we love and is perfect for Cory.

It has been 6 years since all my boys have been together at one time. It is quite nice to have all the family home and together.

Logan and Tracie just moved in this weekend. Logan got a job here and is working at Recovered Energy with Cory. He will be going to school in the fall and wants to try and find a home while the market is good for buyers.

We are going to have two more grand babies this late summer, early fall. We are excited for them.

I have had the crafting bug a lot lately and just can't seem to pull myself away from the craft room.

I will post the cards I have made as soon as I find my USB cable that goes with my camera, since my computer is not card reader ready.

I wish I were better at blogging. Oh well!

now you know why I have a hard time keeping a journal. I am not so good at put my thoughts to words.

Any whoo, I just want to tell all of my family and friends that I love them and I am so lucky to have them in my life!