Hi girls....

Katie, sorry about the "C". IDK, but I sometimes have to remind myself that I have to lower the bar - or - go crazy. So, maybe next time it will flow a lot better. Oh, just so you know, you can C25K in the rain

Shannon, my ear still bothers me. I've been taking bunches of OTCs. I think I just developed allergies. To what, I don't know.

I just started C25K this week, W1D2 was today. My knee feels OK. We are super busy with the baseball season and all things that go with a house. Landscaping is the big thing this year. I have no idea how to do and need to figure things out.

Jessica, welcome home. If you and hubs are interested in Warrior Dash in MN, I have someone that has 2 tickets they can't use. Maybe, they would sell cheap? Let me know.

Katie sorry about the C as well. I hate economics! Keep it up with triathlon preparations!

Hope you ladies get your ears fixed, that's no fun! Ever since we got home my allergies have been on high.

Kim when is the MN WD? It all depends on when I suppose, but that would be so much fun!!

I surprisingly don't care about the C, except that now I have to retake the class for Pitt to accept it. I slacked and know that I have no one to blame but myself. So.....I'm going to retake it in the fall, along with my managerial accounting class, then I'LL BE DONE WITH THE ASSOCIATES! Whoo hoo, transferring on to bigger and better things in the spring!

Shannon - I did Day 1 yesterday and OUCH are my legs sore! The app is called "C25K Free" (I have an iphone and found it easily when I searched C25K). It's REALLY cool, built in timer that tells you when it's time to switch between running and walking. I had Pandora on and it even quited the music for a second when telling you to switch (so that you don't miss is). I like it because I don't have to watch a timer, I just listen. Meeting up with my girlfriend to run with her tomorrow.

Kim - Yay for you starting too! I've had problems with my knee in the past too but am determined to not let it stop me! Stay with it!

Katie - I'll have to look, or search. I have a samsung (android) but I'm sure there's something available. Now I just need to motivate myself to leave the house to go use the treadmill. At least I cant use the girls as an excuse, there is tot-watch. A group of friends and I are doing the color run in Ann Arbor on July 22nd, so I'm hoping to be able to run more of the 5K than I could now. That's my motivation and goal anyway.

Kim - I'm glad to hear your knee is feeling better. Sorry your ear is still bugging you. If it wasn't for my ear history I probably wouldn't bother too much. I've developed allergies as well and think that's my issue. This place does testing so If they think that's an issue I hope to find out what the problem is. Either that or my body just hates me. Good luck with the landscaping - I'm not good at that either. Someday when I have my own house/yard I might care more to try things out. I like low maintenance and easy.

Jessica - sorry you are dealing with allergies with being home, but at least you are home.

I'm really enjoying this weight training in ChaLEAN Extreme. It's tough and it takes a lot out of me but I think it'll be effective. I hope I get some fantastic results!

Had my first ENT appt. He removed some "debris" from my ear. He said my ear drum is not where it's supposed to be (which I knew) but that it can develop cysts that way. He removed the wax, which was fantastic and painful, and gave me ear drops. I go back in 10 days. Maybe the fluid will have subsided by then, maybe not. He said I just have small eustachian tubes which don't drain right...I'll have to ask him how to make them because months of fluid isn't fun. And, I have to see him, or an ENT, yearly to make sure I'm not developing any cysts because of my awful ear drum. Pretty good visit for this. Now I just need to figure out my sinus issues.

Shannon that's great to hear! And you know once your ears are healthy maybe your sinuses will follow. It's all connected, you never know! I wish you much luck!! and no more pain! lol

Ugh being in tiny Iola is starting to get to me.. no car and nothing to do lol. I've been collecting some drift wood from our drained, yes drained lake (depressing!) Got my sand paper and plan on prettying them up and such!

5 weeks and 5 days til we get our OWN place again. I apologize if I wrote this but we decided to move into my parents property in Hartford. It's zoned as a commercial building with 2 apartments in the back. My youngest brother lives in the 1 bedroom and we'll move into the 2 bedroom, all appliances included, washer/dryer, attached 2 car garage. Downfalls- NO YARD!! At all! Bummer but oh well. So as soon as we move in my dad's putting mine and Clints name on the papers, in a year he'll take his own name off and Voila, we have our own "property" So... since it has a commercial front- I'm thinking I'll turn it into my studio since until I have income for my business (if I do it) the mortgage for the whole building is paid with ours and my brothers rent... If I go forward with my own business (interior/exterior decor) and we can receive rent pay for the front woo hoo PROFIT! lol

Anyways that's pretty exciting.. We figure 2-3 years of only $600 a month in rent (hells yea!) and we should be able to afford a house! with a yard! lol...

That is fantastic Jessica!! Eh, a yard is ok but you can find parks and stuff to hang out in...except the dog, hmmm. But how cool on your parents basically giving you the place. Is your brother reliable? Sometimes living/counting on family in that way is tough. I hope it all works out for you guys! That's a long time to wait though, are you moving July 1st or something?

I'm not counting on my sinuses being fixed but it would be a nice byproduct. I really feel like I need to alter my eating. I think I have some environmental allergies too just not sure if I want to get tested or try to food thing first. It'll probly take me another year to actually make a decision here.

Shannon Id think getting an allergy test would be the quickest to start. (and easier!) lol. But either way I wish you luck!

Id much rather have a yard, i love landscaping and want a garden but oh well. We have a park 2 houses a way so thatll be nice. It'll be harder with Meika for aure but will hopefully get my butt out for a few walks a day lol. As for my brother hes totally reliable! And Probably Olivias favorite uncle. I'm hoping itll help him stay away from the bar more. Hes just 22 and still enjoying the night life lol

Hey girls!!

Shannon, great news that you got everyting checked out. I have small tubes as well and my ear is still ****. I've just kind of gave up and eventually I am sure it will clear up.

Jessica, you could do so much with the storefront. I definitely would look at the community and what they could use. I know your more creative; but, I think a resale shop would be cool. It would be easy to turn things around and you could put your crafts in it. Oh, you can come here and decorate anytime.

We've just started landscaping. I've started with hydrangeas (?) to line the area between the sidewalk and the garage. I'll be doing that today and finish up the vegetable garden. Maybe in the storefront, you could make container plants to spruce it up a bit.

Well, g2g...I'm kind of burnt out on MFP right now. It's summer and I want to drink beer, damn it!!

Kim We've thrown around a lot of great ideas and I want it to be a store front BUT its zoned a specific commercial- more like an office or service center because its more in a residential area with no parking. Lame! So I figure its free work space for me to build up an inventory and maybe do some craft fairs an make my own website ? Ive talked about this for years, perhaps its time.

Later on I could always get a small store front- but id much rather have my own cafe

Hang in there hun, summer is hard. Ive done nothing but maintain if not go up a few pounds here and there. Right now my sanity and happiness are more important than my figure lol. Any word on when the MN warrior dash is??

Again don remember if i mentioned but after seeing Dr. #10 my back pain is nearly gone!!! Yay for a great chiro! Still have to get my shoe inserts- probly this weekend.

I was little when I went to an ENT before but I'm guessing my mom was told that my tubes are small. Then again, that was almost 30 years ago. Geez! I had my ear surgery when I was 8 so that was 24 years ago. I wish I could make my ear drum go the right way but I've been forcing it this way for a long time and I do it without even realizing it now. When my ear was blocked back in March I was forcing my ear drums out by blowing out while plugging my nose...I think that's what led to the bleeding. It's painful. Oh, well. The audiologist that did my hearing test said that my hearing issues should be resolved with getting the fluid out, so that's promising.

I will probably end up doing allergy testing but might wait to ask until I have to in. I guess I should have a physical sometime next month. I'm doing the pap at an OB/GYN though, I don't like going to the GP for that.

But, I think I'm still going to do the elimination diet. I'm ready I think. I've got this book and just need to set a menu so I don't stray. This will show me any food intolerances and then at least I'll have that figured out. It might be a long 2 months but I think I'll feel better in the end.

Yeah, Jessica, I guess if you like landscaping you'd want a yard. We do low-maintenance, minimal stuff. We did til our garden and it's ready for plants, but that's the extent of our creativeness, and it's not even all that hard. I'm sure you'll find ways to make it work if that's what you want. Maybe indoor planters, in the front workspace? A cafe sounds nice...I'd have to come visit!

Shannon that sucks! My youngest brother had surgery when he was 14 on both his ears.. we found out right before that that he was legally deaf. He's tubes were fused together. Interestingly enough... OH MY! I just realized, did I mention my father met his birth mother!?!?! I don't think I did... to continue- we got papers from the adoption agency that on his side (I forget if wt was his mothers or fathers side) that there was a history of hearing/ear issues.

The Friday before Mother's Day my dad went to meet his birth mother in Pewaukee- about 40 minutes from where we grew up and only 10 minutes from where my aunt lives! He met her husband and his youngest half brother... sadly.. he was not impressed. He found out that he has 2 half brothers.. 1 is 47 and the other is 35. He's a little bitter (and I don't blame him) b/c my fathers is 48. Which means he was given up and his mom pretty much got knocked up again. That brother is somewhere in California and she wouldn't talk about him... interesting. Also when my dad asked her how old his youngest brother was she said 38 weird if you ask me.

Sorry that was off subject but I always forget what I post and I don't think I told yall!

And yes- a good friend of mine is actually moving to Washington and offered us all her indoor plants, and she has a lot! Also I figure since I'll want my studio to inspire me it'll be quite cool. We've talked about working on the building too so when we move out we can charge more for the apartments. With the right work it really is a great building for profit. My parents having there businesses just don't have the time or resources.. it doesn't help that they live 2 hours away either!

Is your dad happy that he finally met his birth mom? That is disheartening that she gave him up but then had another right away, and kept him? Sounds like he might have been better off getting adopted, assuming his life was ok after that. All of that is interesting to me. I have two little cousins who were adopted from Russia, they have the same mom. I always wonder what goes on in the mind of someone adopted and how you make decisions about what to look for regarding people and reasons.

I've thought about getting some indoor plants myself but have a hard enough time just keeping up with the house, and I kill them. I'll just stick with the outdoor garden for now...which needs to be planted.

To my knowledge there are no other ear issues in my family, but that doesn't mean there aren't. My mom sells hearing aides - does that count? All my issues have really been on my right side so I'm guessing the tube on the right is worse.

Shannon, did you get any advice on how to clear the fluids, any meds. I would definitely be interested in that. Apparently, I have small tubes. It's that left dang side that gets me.

Jessica, I don't know my bio dad either. My current Dad adopted me when he married my mom when I was 2. He didn't want me to have a different last name. I think I am better off. I also have no desire to meet my bio Dad. I don't think he was a very nice person.

Oh, WD is June 30th in MN if you are still interested.

Not yet. He cleared away some 'debris' as he called it from my ear drum. He said there was some inflammation, probably already was and then more from the cleaning. I got some ear drops for 10 days and I go back on the 1st.

From my research, if you can get your ears to pop that should clear the fluid. Hold your breath, plug your nose and blow gently until your ear pops. That should equalize pressure to get the fluid moving. This is what I tried in March before my ear started bleeding. I assume you've been on antibiotics? Another thing I just read was to get something along the lines of flonase and try to get it into your ET to reduce inflammation (this is more along the lines of allergy and inflammation being your problem). To do that, spray the spray and then do the nose plugging/blowing thing. Do you have sinus congestion/inflmmation or just fluid? Oh, tubes is another way to create drainage that your body can't do by itself.

I've been on it ALL; plus, I've had the tube placed...It's only the left side and it's not plugged atm to need popping...just need to clear the fluids out.

Hmmm, well I don't know why you'd have fluid if you have a tube - that keeps it continuously open to drain. If you have a tube and still fluid I would say go back to the doc. Sorry. My 'plugged' is the fluid.

Hello ladies! A combo of back to running, back to classes and TOM has had me DRAINED this week! I'm trying to get with it but it's sssooooo hhhaaarrrdddd..... I can barely keep my eyes open past 10 any more! I just started a nice 4 day weekend though, whoo hoo! Hopefully I'll get rested. Doubtful, but it's nice to hope right?

Shannon - W2G with Chalean, sounds like it WILL be very beneficial for you. Hopefully things continue to progress with the doc.

Jessica - Sounds like you guys are getting into a good deal with the commercial property/apartment deal. And having to WALK the dog will definitely be a good way to get moving....except when it's cold out.

Kim - I want beer too. Blue Moon with an orange slice to be specific. We lounged by my parents pool on Sunday sipping margaritas, I'm looking forward to more of that this weekend.

oh my gosh ladies, where did we all go?!

Yay 1 more month til we move into our new place!! Make it go fast!!!

Katie hope your making it with school and exercise! Keep on keepin on! I looove Blue Moon with orange- try if you can find it, a pink navel.. SOOO good!

Kim and Shannon... do I dare... how are the ears?! Shannon I saw in fb it was bothering you again

Kim how's the landscaping going?! And boo since the MN WD is so close to our move date we just wouldn't be able to swing it. Maybe you should come visit us in Black River Falls and what I'm calling the "hippie convention"! I think we're gonna take my parents RV... FUN! (however it's made me do some research and I'm saving up for a real tipi!!!)

Speaking of saving... we were contacted by a creditor last week.. for one of my husbands student loans from 10 YEARS AGO! Grrr.. took out a loan and we're paying off the $4600 settlement. As much as it sucks if feels good to make it go away! Also had a budget meeting with our loan specialist today to make a budget and help us get back on track. In a few months we can switch our horrible capital one credit cards to them and then a few months after that we can refinance our car. YAY! ps Capital One is evil!

Olivia had her 3 year check up today! (a little late lol) She's in the 75th% for height and 25th% for weight! And of course very healthy and ahead of schedule in all her little check ups.

Hey girls...IDK, still kind have drainage issues on that side. I've never had such a thing until I had that dumb virus in January. Shannon, whatever we had really messed us up. The small ear canal girls.

I went to barre yoga today. It was the last day of my Groupon and I really, really want to keep going. I'm going to have to save some money to do it.

The contest ends next week. I'm not sure that I want to start another. It seems like peeps just weren't supportive of each other this round and that's really what I wanted. I mean, what's the point if it's not going to be interactive?

Jessica, hopefully you and hubs can get settled down and start to get ahead. Glad baby girl is doing good. She's getting big!!

Kim I want to try barre yoga SOOO badly! My chiro said that, zumba and belly dancing are the key to keeping my scar tissue away. Plus with the barre you get the plus of the toxins pouring through your pores!! I have to find one close to us... I'm hoping that doesn't mean Milwaukee.

I'll have to post some new pictures of my big girl, it's insane!! She keeps asking for a little brother or little sister (head to palm).

Thats sad about the competition.. has it just turned all cut throat?? I've been waiting for this biggest loser comp to start and haven't seen a thing... wth?? I really need something to keep me going! lol... oh well...

No, not cut throat at all. Just lack of involvement if anything, no comradity, no bantering, no teams that stuck together. Yes, I am on that biggest loser thread as well and not sure if it's going to happen at all. I e-mailed the OP and haven't heard back.

Hi all!

Jessica - your almost on your own! You won't know what to do with all that freedom! How's your body holding up, and the pain you've been dealing with?

Kim - I almost felt like this comp was too big. Then again, with the teams it really should counter that. There really was a lack of posting aside from weight. Even the mini-comps didn't get many people posting. Maybe take a break for the summer?

I went back to the ENT Friday. He said that the infection is gone and there is no fluid. He said he could put a tube in but it likely wouldn't stay and would just cause more problems than its worth. So, at this point it's just deal. He said to take Allegra-D and Flonase to keep allergies from making it worse - which they do. With my retracted ear drum I'll likely just have to deal with it. I've dealt with it all thus far, but the crap I had for those couple months made it worse. I go back in 6 months and yearly after that, mostly to make sure I don't develop cysts. If I have any drainage or issues outside of that I can go back.

I'm gearing up for this elimination diet. I am trying to start now but am ok with a few bad things here and there. Payday is Thursday so I'll start this weekend or Monday. 2-3 weeks of no dairy, wheat/gluten, sugar, eggs, caffeine...I am going to try my hardest!

Shannon, I agree...the comp went on too long. In fact, this is the last week. I am taking some time off. I also won't do the nutrition and exercise portion. It was just too much work. I'll definitely do more double eliminations and have it just last about 6 to 8 weeks. However, I find it does keep me accountable.

Ear, Schmear...I definitely am suffering from some sort of allergy things. I will try the allegra as well.

Oh, I when I went to the allergist with my son. They suggest eliminating one group at a time. There are 5 main allergen groups. The top 3 are dairy, wheat and believe it or not, chicken.

Really? That seems like it could skew the results. I would do so much better to be able to do that. But, logically, if you have a sensitivity to more than one thing, you might not catch them both because you could see symptoms from the other either when you are eliminating or re-introducing.

We go periods of time without eating (buying) chicken. That's an odd one and I've never heard that. This diet that I've looked at eliminates eggs too - I've contemplated not doing that as I don't think that's my issue. I honestly think dairy is an issue. I don't know what to think about wheat or gluten but I do think it could help my belly shrink if I can get rid of it. That one won't be too bad but dairy I eat all.the.time! Whether I should just cut back or eliminate is yet to be seen. And who knows, maybe it's something else.