(De)Construction in a few different ways

I am going to try really hard to be better about blogging - really, I am!  I've felt though, that I just haven't had a lot from a lap-band perspective to talk about, and so haven't.  BUT... I also think that 3 years out from being banded, it is perfectly okay for this blog to move from the "losing weight" part to the "gaining tons" part of my life!!!  So, here we are!  A few "highlights" (some low-lights) from the last few weeks!

• (+) Liam turned one last week.  ONE!  Where on earth has the time gone?  He is such a joy, and Lucia is such a great helper for us with him.  And he absolutely adores her...

Boy, he looks like he's going to get into some trouble one day! 

My sweet boy... 

He adores his big sister!

• (-) I have been sick since June 1st.  Dennis and I both got a TERRIBLE cold and after 4 days of fever, the rest of it has lingered.  I've had laryngitis at some level since the 1st (yes, going on 18 days) and am just beat.  I finally went to see the doctor today, and he basically said that it is a virus, and that I may be another few weeks with the voice issues.  If it doesn't clear up by July, we'll consider an ENT... in the meantime, "BE QUIET"!  (Does he know how hard that is for me???)
• (+) Yes, a highlight for me... One of my dear "blog-buddies" who I have had the privilege to meet / see a few times had such a great weekend...  CATHERINE GOT ENGAGED!!!  Yay Catherine!!!  We all can't wait to hear details here in band-blog-land!!!  I can't begin to tell you how happy I am for you!
• (+) We had an absolutely wonderful (and quiet) Father's day... so nice and laid back... no drama, great weather - couldn't be better!

Den & the kids in semi-matching PJ's

PHYSICAL (DE)CONSTRUCTION THOUGHTS:

• I found out today at the doctor that I am back down to about 205 which is right about where I was when I got pregnant with Liam.  YAY ME!  I feel good, although without working out / exercising, the clothes aren't fitting quite as well, but I'll get back there eventually.
• Also on the physical front, for the first time in my adult life, I have VERY GOOD cholesterol.  HURRAY!  Talk about a major NSV!!!  For a while, at my highest weight, I was on cholesterol meds and one of my doctors when I was first pregnant with Lucia diagnosed me with a fatty liver and told me that at the rate I was going, I would be back in there in 5 years being treated for that. Well, NO SIR!  No more high cholesterol, no more fatty liver, I am definitely in way better physical shape than I was back then!
• I need to "(De)Construct" my food choices.  I read Camille's post today about the 30 day regimen she went on and it is really interesting.  I need to think seriously about cutting all of the crap (especially the sugar and alcohol) out and see if that can kick-start me back under 200.  

HOUSE (DE)CONSTRUCTION THOUGHTS:

• Dennis and I started some construction work on our house today.  Well, okay, let's be real.  Our amazing contractor, Larry, started it.  Seriously, we don't even mow our own lawn.  There are some things we are good at, and some things we aren't.  It isn't a huge remodel, more of a "moderate" one... We are expanding the "door" / opening between our family room and kitchen, which are the two rooms we live in the most.  We are pulling out the gas fireplace which we NEVER used, and turning that into a built-in (the space behind there is HUGE!)...  Turning a door out to the sunroom into a window, and then a window in the kitchen into french doors going out to the same sunroom... New quartz countertops, new flooring, new appliances including a gas (!) stove, a new storm door with a screen (one of the minor things that I am VERY excited about) and a bunch of other little piddly stuff that really makes me happy.
• We are really blessed in this economy to be able to make these changes - spending money isn't always the most "fun" thing for our family but I am excited about how much more "useable" these changes are going to make the main part of the house where we live... Supposedly it will all be done by the end of next week - we'll see!  I'm taking off a few days post-July 4th to clean up and do touch-up-paint, so they'd better be done by then.
• Pictures of the demo so far...

The fireplace demo... you can't tell, but it is about 4 feet wide by 3 deep and about 12 high (goes above the ceiling)... it will be paneled inside with built in shelves and is where the TV will go - note, a MUCH bigger TV than we currently have will someday fit in there!!! 

The original opening between the kitchen and family room was the rectangle to the left... they are opening it up about 2-3 feet wide and a foot high - which is going to make a HUGE difference in opening the entire space!

In other news, here are a few pictures of me since I realized I haven't posted much of those lately!

Liam and me, a few weeks ago...

With a friend at his party on Saturday opening presents...  I am so happy at how thin my face is these days!

Hope everyone is doing well...  I will keep trying to be better about posting!