Um, can I get a re-write???

Hi Everyone! How are you guys doing?  I'm fine.  No really, fine is probably the best word to use.  I am home alone this weekend, for the first time in I don't know how long!  I'm also recovering from a sinus & ear infection combo - yes, I know, you're jealous. I haven't posted in a while and I apologize to my 7 followers :o)  Life has gotten in the way.  It's been weird.  Not sure if I'm ready to share, but 2010 is definitely a year of upheavals and change! This post won't be long, but I thought I'd say "hi" before I begin enjoying my 3-day weekend! Oh, here's a couple of pictures of me from last Friday.  I'm down 73 pounds!  Me and a very tall co-worker (Tom), he knelt down because I'm so short, and yes, he's almost as tall as me on his knees... My name is Mary Beth and I am SHORT! ;o) I'm not really fond of this picture, but it's a little snapshot of me until I get a better one! Love and blessings to yo...

Hi Everyone! So, it’s been a while since I posted. How have you been? First, here are the links to my latest vlog posts: Part 1  & Part 2 Something very “exciting” just happened in my kitchen. Shelby announced that she was going to make herself some eggs for dinner. The rule is she can’t use the stove or oven when I’m not home. I’m home. Everything is cool. Not so much! I hear this loud WHOOSH and turn around in time to see flames shooting out from under the pan. How did that happen? Well, Shelby thinks it’s perfectly okay to spray the non-stick spray WITH THE FRICKING BURNER ON! Yes, I freaked out! I can’t believe she did that! I mean, holy cow! Needless to say, I yelled and told her how dangerous what she did was and told her how she could’ve really gotten severely hurt. Of course, her reaction was “I’m never speaking to you again!” Yep, I’ve got a pre-teen! Lovely, huh? Let’s see, on the weight loss front – I am 16 ½ weeks post-op and am down 66.6 pounds! Pretty dar...

This past Saturday, I had to travel to Northwestern Memorial (in Chicago) for my 6-month MRI & chest-x-ray. I brought three cheerleaders with me, Shelby, SA and Emma! Of course, they had to wait in the waiting room for over an hour while I had my tests, but when I got back in the waiting room, they had blankets and were lying on the floor watching TV. Not bad girls! ;o) We had lunch at Friday's, which is conveniently located across the street from the hospital. Me & the girls: Emma, Shelby & SA Aren't they so cute? :) While we were eating lunch, I realized that the sun was coming out (it had been raining since Friday).  So we decided to take a walk to Millenium Park! As we approached the park, I saw this: Do you see the yellow "guy" in the middle of the road?  I wonder, did it just happen or did someone spend time to form a little person at the busy intersection... Then we approached the infamous "Bean"!!!    SA, Emma & Shelbs hol...

This afternoon I got a hysterical call from Shelby.  She was in my mom's car & they were in an accident!  Supermom MB kicked into gear and got there as fast as I could.  Everyone is fine, the car, not so much! A friend on Facebook posted a "Glad List" on her page today.  It reminded me that I have so much to be grateful for, including: Shelby Grace - I love her so much! Shelby & my mom were uninjured My most excellent friends (Traci is super-cool) ;o) My awesome job Kindness I'm down 58.8 pounds (as of 10:44 tonight!) Things really are looking up! Taking a fun hike yesterday with Shelby & Wilbur Trying new things The swamp is coming to life - the frogs are singing their songs! Indoor plumbing Laughter Smiles I'm going to close with a few of the pictures I took on our hike yesterday.     Love and blessings to you all!!    

So, yeah, I've been single for a LONG time.  Not intentionally.  There were extenuating circumstances (I was scared of Shelby's father) that prevented me from even trying really.  Things have changed.  No he hasn't changed.  I have. I am now ready to test the waters.  I know that I am worthy of being loved.  For some that's a "given", for me, eh not really.  Yeah, we all have issues/baggage.  Mine was pretty heavy for a long time.  Now that I've lost FIFTY POUNDS (woo hoo!) I'm starting to feel better about my appearance (I didn't say my issues were all gone - LOL). I've been thinking about what kind of man I think I would like to spend time with.  Tell me if I'm expecting too much: Kind Compassionate Believes in a higher power Loving Affectionate Patient FUNNY (I can't believe I forgot to include this originally!) Taller than me (I'm 5'2") Under 50, unless he's super hot, then maybe I could be convinced ;o...

Today, I am grateful for: Shelby My absolutely awesome friends! Wilbur the Wonder Dog Being able to stand up for myself and what I feel is right Being able to walk away when I've had enough The desire to surround myself with kind, loving, compassionate, positive people I have lost 48 pounds (as of 10:30 tonight)!!!!!! Having a conversation with the sperm donor without screaming or yelling. Meeting with my new therapist tomorrow. Waking up without a migraine! Have I mentioned my fantabulous friends???? ;o) Free will Kind people Our home Filling up the (rodent proof) dog food container without spilling half the 40 pound bag of small bites dog food! Being alive! Today Tomorrow Love and blessings to you all!!!!        

Okay, I’ve been in denial lately… I’ve lost 47 pounds since my surgery on 12/29/09 – Yay! I should be super happy, thrilled with the amazing progress I’ve made, right? Yeah, I’m not.  Not that I’m not happy or thrilled about losing close to 50 pounds in 9 weeks. It’s that I’m just not happy. Rewind… It’s been 11 months since I officially started my WLS (weight loss surgery) journey. Very soon after I started my “medically managed weight loss program” required by my insurance, a friend started telling me about his experience. Pretty much right away he started talking about the shortcuts or workarounds of eating. I started wondering how healthy he really was. Then, his posts on my blog were very strange. Like, I didn’t understand a few of them. Then, he would tell me the same story over and over. I realized he was drinking heavily. So, despite losing 200 pounds after having gastric bypass surgery, this guy was drinking to excess. FYI – drinking alcohol is the number one thing to avoi...