ProGreSS PhoTos, HaiR, PrOjeCts MaDe and a FuN NiGhT wiTh ThE LaDieS..)

Good morning my good people!!! its been a while since I have blogged so I thought I would fill you in on the week..be prepared its going to be a long post..sorry this is what happens when you are busy with doctors and getting ready for a show..I thought I would show you some progress photos of me on my weight loss journey..(hopefully you are not sick of hearing about it) but you can do this..you don't need the fancy surgeries etc..you just have to want it bad enough to get yourself motivated for it..the above photo is of me at my heaviest..and I am going to finally reveal what that is..242 pounds..my heaviest ever sad to say..I have gained almost 97 pounds that I lost back from 1999..that is a very sad number to say the least..so in January when I found out I had polycystic kidney disease or PKD I decided something needed to change and I needed to give my kidneys a fighting chance to hopefully slow down the process or at the very least not having my kidneys working so hard etc..so I set out to do a "lifestyle" change and start exercising and eating right and making better choices...

here I am at 45 pounds lost..at 197 pounds..

50 pounds lost..at 192 pounds..

here I am today at 68.5 pounds lost at 173.5 pounds..yes I have lost more this week..oh and I got my hair done on the 8th..so these are the new color photos too.:)

she does a fabulous job..but she is going up in price come january..so I probably won't be going back to her..can't justify 145.00 for this every 8 weeks..its absurd..so am looking elsewhere for a new hair dresser..sad to cause I love the way she does it..:(

more hair pics..

I love the red..its really shiny too:) well this week I had my first doctors visit on tuesday..turned out to be a loooonnnnggg day too..I got there at 10am and didn't leave till 6:15pm..they need to monitor me while taking the pill to make sure my heart (EKG)'s times 5 is doing well and take blood and they tried in my hand and the veins collapsed..so they went for the arterial vein (I think thats what they call it) in my groin area..and they found the sweet spot!! works everytime..cause its the biggest vein in our bodies..doesn't hurt a bit and I am a happier person.and not almost fainting because they need to poke me so many times..although it was 5 times to be exact that day..then I went back the next day for one more ekg and one more blood draw and I was done for the day..so on this tuesday the 22nd..I get another blood draw and then on the 28th I have to be there at 8am and its going to be another long day like till 5pm..and then back again on the 29th for another blood draw..so I took my crafting with me and some magazines to read..started my new primitive place magazine that day..so now its a luck of the draw whether I am on the actual pill or a placebo..I will be on this study for about 4 years..they also pay for my food and my meds if I need any..and they pay me for the study..so we shall see how I am doing..I am hoping I have the pill and that it will help shrink the cysts and that I can help those that need this good pill..it needs to pass FDA in order to go public..so keep me in your prayers from time to time sending out good vibes too.:>)

I finished up that mantel scarf the other day..I added santa and the bag of goodies..

I have also been selling my stuff on etsy and have sold 2 scarves and 2 dolls..this little thank you gift went with the 2 scarves sold and then she bought a doll for her mom..so I need to get something else going..I love this design..its on my christmas curtains that I will put up in december..:)

on thursday night we had our church "enrichment night" and it was a holiday auction..we had one of our gals from a different ward be our auctioneer and she was tooooo funny..

we all brought things from home that we didn't want or that we purchased...

and put them on the table...lots of great things to pick..

this is our goofball auctioneer modeling reusable grocery bags..we thought they looked like rain hats..we had to answer 60 questions and each question had a point value..we added up our points and that was "our money" to spend on the items..so she would start out the bidding and we bid on stuff..you had to deduct your points when you "purchased" something each time..we all went away happy..it was so much fun to see bidding wars..you could do this with your families at those big family gatherings..it is so much fun..

I came home with this cute little country lit christmas tree..it will be the only one I put up this year as the two rotten children won't leave anything alone..Lucy is already chewing on this one..

ppuurrrty isn't it..I love the glow it gives at night..

and I got these window clings..can't wait to put Santa in the upstairs window like he is peeking out..and I love the burl ives snowman..I got 2 of him..so one will go with my little sister in her box..Yesterday hubby had the day off and it was a gorgeous day so we spent 4 hours out blowing and raking up leaves..it looked like it snowed yellow leaves..the ground was covered..the biggest dump yet..and I wasn't tackling that job myself..so he blew and I raked..and raked..we were both so sore by the time we got in..got a fire going and hopped in the shower..the dog got a bath too..all of us were in need by the time we were done..but we are 98% done..there are still a few stragglers hanging on but it is done now..and it looks so much better..I am anal about my yard and hate it looking messy..period..we got our first frost last night..and today is glorious and sunny..so taking Tucky for a walk in a bit..got a nice fire in the stove to take the morning chill off..we are going to be getting some chilly nights this week..frost makers..we have heating pads for the 3 outdoor babys and they are on at night to keep them warm..well I am off to eat breakfast and get something to sew..and packages packed up for monday..I hope you are all doing well..I can't believe its thanksgiving next week..I feel like I need another week to prepare and about 4 more weeks to get more crafting done..have a wonderful weekend everyone and thanks for hanging in there on this looonng post..after my show it will be better I promise.;)