I put up a few new pics!!! The dressy ones are from the Bariatric Gala (black tie optional dinner) that the hospital where I had my surgery has each year. I feel great. I look the best I've ever looked. AND I'm the happiest I've ever been. Talk of marriage but no formal proposal yet. I miss all of you. Mandy

Ruth It is never easy to fight the school system. I really hate it when I get a teacher that isn't able to adapt to a child that needs something different than the rest. I think that sometimes, some teachers think it isn't fair to teach a child the way that they need to be taught, they figure that it is giving special favours. I think that not adapting to a different learning style is like not giving insulin to a child who has diabetes. It wouldn't be fair to give all the kids in the class insulin as it wouldn't be good for them either, but that is the argument that I hear from many teachers, that it wouldn't be fair to teach differently because it wouldn't be fair to the other kids. I hope that you are able to work this out. I often think that getting away from toxic teaching is far better than toughing it out. Self esteem grows back if it isn't completely squashed.

Thanks Carla You always seem to have some project or other going on - do you ever rest? You must have the energy of a super woman

Hi Deanna are you being serious re your shoulder or just joking? I hope you are joking...if not, make sure your doctor documents the injury to try for reconstruction - I know you got turned down didn't you. Maybe if you can show problem the insurance will reconsider. Good for you running 8 miles on your own too! That sounds like my ideal dream - gettign up on a SUnday morning and going for a run. Yes I know - the only thing stopping me is me and my laziness Millie has learning difficulties and needs multi-sensory learning strategies. Trouble is that her teacher is basically rubbish as far as we can see and has been obstructing all efforts to help Millie as she thinks she knows best. We've already had several meetings this semester and we finally had enough and made a complaint about her. That is what the meeting on Friday was about. The whole school (I work there) know's what this teaches is like, but she's been allowed to get away with it for so long. We spent 2 1/2 hours with the head teachers telling us how wonderful the teacher is and us disagreeing. We are seriously considering moving Millie to a new school but her confidence is at an all time low and she is actually on the edge of an emotional breakdown so are concerned that moving her will be detrimental too. We feel like we are between a rock and a hard place, not knowing what to do for the best. Aghhhh, the life of a parent - we are supposed to be educational professional, health care professionals, child care professionals, etc. etc. etc. Sigh, and of course as mothers we ALWAYS second guess our decisions too!! And being a perfectionist doesn't help either......... Anyway, sorry to ramble on! Hope your shoulder gets better soon

Hi Ruth! What's going on with your daughter and her school? I hope everything is okay! This weekend was okay for me. We did some shopping and we also rented some of season 1 of Heroes so we can catch up and then watch this season, which we've recorded. So exciting, huh?! Ha, ha! Then on Sunday morning I got up early and I went for an 8 mile run ... yes, 8 freaking miles! Woo hoo! I really threw my shoulder out though from my excess skin boobs ... ouch! I'm really sore today. Deanna