Now I ask you very confidentially.... ain't she sweet?

This picture is really good at showing how teeny tiny little Melanie is. In David's arms she looks like a dolly. I haven't seen her myself since she was about 5 days old... so I am sure she has changed a bit.

She is just a sweetie though.

Here she is with her mama. (Very proud mama, too I think!)

I saw my pain doctor today. He is very pleased with the results of the last epidural injection. I have been able to cut my pain meds in HALF. This is awesome. My goal is to get off them completely.

He is sending me to Physical Therapy twice a week to try to build up the muscles in my neck. I hope they do massage and TENS because that's my favorite part of P.T. LOL.

I have purchased ALL of the LOST action figures that have been released. I have a feeling that they will be worth something someday. They are Limited Editions and they are pretty dang cool! Very hard to find -- and I just think once the show is over... they will be worth something. I hope so. If not... I will enjoy them myself because as I said, they are pretty cool!

I had a low cal version of a cob salad today. It was yummy. I had lettuce, two hard boiled eggs and a couple tablespoons of left-over corn on the cob (off the cob) topped with Lite Ranch. And a plate of watermelon, cantalope and honeydew on the side. YUMMMO.

Who needs the bacon?? I didn't even miss it.

I made some lowfat oatmeal craisin cookies last night. Wow, they are really good too! I have those in the vending machine at work. I replaced half the butter with applesauce. Works great. I was supposed to have raisins and soak them in either whisky or rum... BUT I had craisins and no booze so I soaked them in 2 TB of water that had rum extract and coconut extract. They came out really good!! I'm really enjoying learning how to cook lower fat and healthier.

Visiting Lisa's Marky.........

My friend Lisas' husband, Mark, is buried up in Heber and I went with her on Saturday to decorate his grave for Memorial Day. Came out rather sweet I think. The sign on the left says "Hooked on fishing" but it's hard to tell, because of the angle of the shot. And the sign on the right says "Gone fishing" and she had lots of cute little fishing ornaments dangling on it. The flag represents his active duty (he was in Special Forces). And then of course, some flowers.

Later that evening we went to see "Angels and Demons". I thought it was very intense, but I truthfully didn't understand a whole lot of it. Still, it was very good, but I imagine a lot of Catholics would be offended. It really makes the Vatican part of the church seem totally corrupt. And parts of the movie were very hard to watch. I had to close my eyes as the deaths were very gruesome.

I know how I would feel about a movie that made MY church appear to be corrupt. Would not like that at all.

Yesterday I took Karin and Brett to the airport. They are in London England. (at least I imagine they are there by now.... I know their flight was delayed here). David spent the weekend spelunking in St. George with his friend. Brian and Michael came over yesterday and we barbecued thick ribeye steaks on the BBQ, and had homemade potato salad, fresh chunks of water and honeydew melon, cantalope, corn on the cob, carmelized onions, and strawberry shortcake. It was sooooooooooooo good.

Today I was going to go to Lisa's for a bbq. But she called this morning and her poor knee is really in bad shape, lots of pain, very swollen, she can hardly walk. So we postponed the bbq for another day. It started hurting her really bad during the movie. I guess it got progressively worse. Hope it isn't permanent. She just had surgery on it not too long ago!

Well, I have laundry going, and need to clean up the house. So I am going now. Happy Memorial day to all my friends and family!

Woo hoo It's WORKING!

I have been eating healthier, exercising a wee bit more, following the program of this book "The Sugar Addict's Total Recovery Program" --- and I don't know how much weight I have lost because I won't step on the scale, but I HAVE gone down a whole size in my jeans!

I know that it is showing up some because a LOT of people have said, "You're losing weight! I can tell!"

I have a looooooooooooooong way to go, but at least I am on the way! And it's been pretty much painless. I still eat sugar, but I don't really WANT sweets that much anymore and I am enjoying salads and veggies. I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD EVER SAY THAT!!!!

Michael has moved up in the world to the AVENUES.

Yep... this is his new house.

Oh wow, I love this back yard. How relaxing! How ZEN!

I finally figured out why I have "A" on the brain. There are a ton of motorcycles on the road because of the nice weather. Everytime I hear the roar of a Harley.... I'm right back on that bike with my arms around him and the wind blowing my hair. Those were good times. But they are done. And so am I.

I guess it's okay to remember it was fun. As long as I remind myself it wasn't what I want.

Going out of my mind....

I have severed all ties with "A" but one. I cannot seem to get that SOB out of my HEAD!!!!! I try and I try and when I find myself thinking about him I literally tell myself to STOP and I try to focus on something else. But it's like he pushes his way back in.

Now don't get me wrong.... I'm not MISSING him or wishing I could take him back. No, it's just that I find thoughts of him creeping in and it's just memories of what was, but it isn't making me want to go out with him again.

I just wish I could get him OUT OF MY HEAD FOR GOOD! I stopped listening to "our" music. I have really been doing well at disposing of everything (or selling it).

I am not sure what is triggering this sudden surge of memories. But it is driving me bonkers. I can't concentrate at work... I find myself just daydreaming, lost in a moment of time and then I come back to my senses and think, "Where the heck did that come from?"

It's most annoying. I half expected to hear from him this past weekend because he always sent me Mother's Day cards to tell me he thought I was a great mother to my kids. I bet that is what started it. I'm extremely glad he didn't do it. I would not have opened it if he had.

I guess it just takes time.

Happy Mother's Day

Yesterday was a wonderful Mother's day. I am so blessed to have such wonderful children. They are all so smart and intelligent, and funny, and fun to be with, and kind, thoughtful, sensitive.... I could go on and on. They gave me the sweetest cards (Karin and Brian's made me cry. David and Michael's made me laugh).

I am a lucky mom. Truly.

Of all the blessings I have been given in life... my children are the most precious. They are the jewels in my crown.

My mom stopped by in spirit a few times yesterday so I could wish her a Happy Mother's day. I told her that now that she got my sister married off it's time to work on me.

She says she's working on it. Ha ha ha... Or at least I like to imagine she is.

Better get to work.

I wish you could grasp how tiny she is....

Melanie Isabel (or as I have nicknamed her -- MellyBelly) is so incredibly tiny. Pictures don't capture how teeny she is. But believe me... she is TINY. Eeeensy weensy.

Her parents would hate my choice of a nickname. I will try not to use it in front of them. LOL

This weekend is Mother's Day. I miss my mom. Oh well. It does get easier with time.

I have yard work to do this weekend, lots of baking, and I need to wash my car inside and out. I moved my exercise bicycle into the living room, directly in front of the TV. Now I have NO reason not to get some exercise while watching the tube. I rode it for half an hour last night.

I'm making veggie lasagna, home made rolls and low cal cheesecake for Mother's day. YUM YUM.

Oh my gosh, I gotta share!

Neither one of these guys looks all that sure of himself as he holds the new baby. (I guess I should call her by her name -- Melanie). She looks so teeny tiny and so sweet. They probably feel like they might drop her and break her or something. I just love the looks on their faces. (Thank you Karin for sharing pics with me).

We just hired an intern at work for the summer and he looks A LOT like the intern on "The Office". I crack up when I see him. His name is Ben. But I keep wanting to call him "Ryan". I have to get a picture of him somehow to post.

Work is getting so busy these days, I almost wish they could hire a helper for ME. I could use it!

Buying baby clothes is fun... even if it's not my baby!

I took David to JCPenny last night and we got his new little sister some new outfits. We had actually picked out this 5 pack of onsies for her, but something told me to put it back. Good thing I did because Karin had bought the exact same ones!!

David was so excited to get to hold her. I texted him later in the evening and asked "So what do you think of your new baby sister?" He replied, "She is an angel!"

Can't wait to see her myself.

Michael's comment was "She's so tiny! Even Ruby weighs twice as much!" (Ruby is their Yorkie dog).

Seems like lots of babies on the way. Chris and Nate have their little one, My coworker Jason and his wife are expecting # 2 already (they got married a week before Karin and Brett!) A ward member, Laura Garn had a baby girl yesterday. Brett's bro and sis-in-law are expecting around the same time as Chris.

Just lots of new spirits heading into the world. It's kind of fun!

My SEE-STAR gets hitched! YEE HAW!

For some odd reason my captions are not lining up with the photos. I have done this 3 times and so I don't know what the deal is..... so sorry if it seems weird.... I tried........






Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Rick Ianeta. (I think I spelled that right.....)























This is them exactly one minute after being pronounced husband and wife.























Cutting the cake.























Smoooooooch.


























The new couple

























This bride got a tat for her wedding though it was supposed to be just for the groom to discover... but the dress was too revealing. LOL. So we all got a peek.



























The bride is saying "Let's get this show on the road!!"

Real pretty hair design.........

Chris adjusts the petticoats before the wedding, while Evie looks on.

It's a GIRL!!!

My children have a new little sister! Her name is Melanie Isabel and she is 4 pounds 10 ounces. 18 inches long. Look at that hair! All of my kids were little red heads or bald. (they were also TWICE as big!) Mark and Angela are adopting this little angel. She was born yesterday (I think). She was about a month premature, but from what I hear she seems to be doing really well and is healthy.

I think she is sooo dang cute! I gotta buy a gift of premie clothes for them.

I'm really happy for them!