London Calling

Everybody needs a hand

My aunt emailed me this week and suggested that we think about hosting some kind of a fundraiser to help my parents.  Times are tough for them in most part because of my mom's cancer fight.  (The economy doesn't help either.)  After eight years of surgery/chemo/radiation, she just can't work as hard as she used to and the medical bills are piling up.  Now, Suze Orman would probably not agree with their saving/spending history, but honestly, would she approve of mine or yours?

My parents have a great support system and friends have helped them by dropping off meals, cleaning the house and even giving them money.  They swallowed their pride and accepted food from a church pantry.  All of that has helped, but now that my mom hasn't worked in almost a month because of complications with her radiation (her cancer has spread to her spine), I'm afraid that they'll be in much worse shape.

My mom has applied for disability benefits and we hope that those will come through quickly.  I believe that she's been eligible for years because of they type of cancer she has.  Social Security offers Compassionate Allowancesfor people who have certain diseases.  She qualifies for #36, "36 Ovarian Cancer - with distant metastases or inoperable or unresectable."  When I first read about that, I thought, oh, that's great.  She won't have any problem qualifying.  Then, I realized that the "compassion" is for people who will not live to receive their retirement benefits and possibly, would die before the traditional disability application may even be accepted.

So that was a big downer.  Then I remembered that my mom has already outlived expectations and she's strong willed and wonderful and has a great support system and -- most important -- grandbabies.  I have no doubt that she'll continue to beat the odds.  As I've said before, she's a fighter. 

Back to the fundraiser.  As bad as the money situation gets, my parents will always have a place to live (even if it's at our house), food to eat and hopefully medical care.  And today, when it feels like every day we hear about another company closing or laying off employees, everyone needs help.  So, no fundraiser.  Just a prayer for everyone who is having a tough time.  Please don't be too proud to ask for help. 

When I read about the Lupoe family this week, my heart was broken.  As difficult as things may get, I hope that people ask for help.  After experiencing so much kindness from family and friends who continue to help support my parents in their time of need, I've learned that people are willing to go the extra mile -- more than you'd think.  I have a feeling that we'll all lean upon each other a little more in the coming year. 

W2 Addiction

I think I've said this before, but I'm a huge fan of Weight Watchers (aka w2).  Since London was born -- so for at least three years -- I've been starting w2 every Monday.  I count my points, work out, plan meals -- the whole schpeal.  Usually, I screw up by Wednesday or Thursday and then live la vida loca until I start again on Monday.  My regular w2 drop-out paired with cutting my runs by about one thousand percent is the cause of my muffin top.

With baby Violet -- who is two months old today! -- came new inspiration/motivation and quite a few more pounds.  So more like a popover than a muffin top.  Frankly, I'm surprised that I don't tip over when I walk.  This time I needed to go to a w2 meeting and so far, it's working.  I've lost seven pounds since starting going to meetings and at least 35 pounds since the evening before the baby was born.  (Maybe more, but when you hit those numbers, it's hard to even look at the scale.)  Sadly, I still have 15 pounds to loose to get to pre-Violet weight and another 10 to get to pre-London weight. 

I have no doubt that I'll reach my goal because I've just about hit that zone -- the w2 addiction zone.  It's the place where the really good food -- all of the butter and sugar and cheese -- doesn't mean as much to me.  It's easier to pass up.  It also helps that baby Violet limits date nights and forces me to keep drinking to a minimumm.  And, frankly, I'm too tired to snack at night.  I'd rather go to bed early to be "fresher" when baby Violet calls for her own late night snack.  Best of all, thanks to nursing, I get an extra 10 pts per day making everything much easier.  It will take me at least three months -- probably four -- to reach my goal, but the timing is perfect for shorts season and -- scary pause -- the community pool where all of the perfect Libertyville moms spend afternoons.  (No tattoos and no muffin tops there.)