Wednesday and Thursday 14 and 15 October 2009: Sarah's last days in Stavanger, Norway...

Heidi says (14 Oct): not always glowing...

Heidi says (15 Oct): The family on the roof of the new De Kreun in Kortrijk!

Heidi says: On the roof of De Kreun!

Heidi says: meet the new De Kreun!

I love the statues in Stavanger, Norway! The one above is on a small, main square but there are nice statues all over.

It's been so sunny - until today. The rain set in and I walked home from the center to my hotel in the rain - about 30 minutes. I am happy to report that I have been walking at least an hour a day here at a pretty fast pace, up hill and down. That feels great! I was afraid of the bad mix of eating too much here and not getting any exercise but it's been going well all around! I am a bit afraid of the weigh-in on Monday but I hope I'll be happily surprised! It's really hard to keep a diet up when you are traveling and can't really control where you eat as much. Tonight was pizza so I took a salad and had two small slices of pizza with it. I have been eating tons of fruit so that's good. I wish I had more time and chance to walk in Belgium - it feels so good and I have slept so well because of it!

Above photo is from yesterday at the hotel between conference and dinner - entertaining myself again... And below photo is to show how diet is going! I saw myself in a video and was happy I didn't look all bloated up for once!

Tomorrow - Friday - it's back to Belgium. Glad it's the weekend. I need some long sleeps. Right now it's almost 1:30am and I am up! I have no idea why. I should be fast asleep as I have to get up early tomorrow. I'm dumb to be up now! Can't help it though!

I totally love the above painting which I saw on a wall near the Stavanger harbor. I am going to read up on this immigration to America history here and the whole harbor history. This city seems to have a lot of stories behind it! It's been great to be here!

Wednesday 14 October 2009: It's a boy! It's a boy!!!

Heidi says: here is our little wild one! I love his little face already. At first glance, I'd say he'll look a lot like me and my family. But maybe it's too soon to tell. I'm only 22 weeks pregnant. Happy!!

Monday and Tuesday 12 and 13 October 2009: Sarah is happy to be in Stavanger, Norway!!

That's me today above and below with a fish in my hotel room. I had some time to kill after the conference and before dinner so I spent it with my fishy friend. Stavanger, Norway is a really pretty city. I am happy to be here! The weather is grand with blue skies and sun shining - perfectly brisk. We're really lucky because usually it rains here a lot! The conference is interesting too - making some good connections - learning.

When in Norway you have to look for signs of vikings of course!

Pretty lakes all around here!

Large boats all over the harbor here!

I don't have time to post more photos right now but I wonder if this link might lead you to a photo album I placed on Facebook. Not sure how that works if we aren't Facebook friends so here goes and we'll see!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=35913&id=1066449046&l=3d0f9db7b3

One last thing - I am trying so hard to stick to my diet over here but it's truly difficult! Last night Thai food, tonight Mexican! I eat lightly all day but still. We eat late. Ughhh! I have to go to the obesity center on Monday again to get weighed - I do not look forward to that at all this time! It's too ard to be good all the time and everywhere! When I have control of my own food at home, it's much easier of course. Oh well - we'll see how it goes. I am curious!

Sunday 11 October 2009: Heidi and Sarah are together again on Face The Day for once as Heidi gave Sarah a GREAT haircut! Pregnant Heidi photos!

Heidi came over to trim my hair and I just LOVE what she's doing to it! It's becoming exactly what I want! She's great at it! Thanks Heidi! It was a perfect moment to get some photos for Face The Day as Heidi and I haven't been seeing each other as often so here you go!
There's Heidi above and below showing off her pregnant belly! I guess she's about 22 months? I think that's what Heidi sad. She's due Valentine's Day!
Heidi says: Haha! 22 months pregnant. I have 18 months to go! That will be a monster baby!! Horrible picture above by the way! Really horrible. I am ashamed of myself! I'd say I need to exercise, but I am a bit too tired to exercise. I will try to move a bit more though. Brrr, that face!

Above you can see my hair cut and hair style and below my daughter's. It's kind of the same for the both of us - we just wear it differently. I love how my and Ayla's hair is turning out as Heidi keeps working on it! Now I am off to Norway for a week and don't know if I will be able to post photos on here until I am back! I am so excited about going to Norway!!! I have always dreamed of going there!

Heidi says: Glad Sarah and Ayla love their hair!!!!! I'll keep on going!

Thursday 08 October 2009: The days pass and Sarah misses Heidi and misses Heidi on Face The Day!

Sarah says:
Face the Day just isn't as fun or meaningful for me without Heidi on here more! I am getting bored by it! I still like the idea of a photo everyday though I am finding it harder and harder to keep up as I don't always have my camera on me like I used to. Anyway - I guess it will just stop when it stops. I still feel like checking in every now and then and I am enjoying tracking my weight loss in photos like the one below. I feel healthy and I think it's just because I am exercising now where as in the past I really didn't for fear of hurting my back. My back is holding up and that makes me feel good. I honestly didn't think it would. Granted - it aches a bit every day still and I know I have to really watch what I do and how I move and sit and walk and bike - but so far so good! I hope I can keep this all up! The combo of my diet, exercise and my writing course is generally giving me a really good feeling. I just feel like I am taking care of my body and brain more! I do miss my husband a bit because he is so busy with his new position, which is normal - but it makes me go more into my own world. I like my own world and that can also be the danger! In November we'll have some days off together and also for two weeks at the end of the year. That will be great and very needed by then! Next week I am off to Norway for work! I can't wait! I have always dreamed of going there and the work stuff looks like it will be pretty cool too.

By the way - I noticed tonight that my kid's nose grew a little. It's very odd to see that happening! She is so not done growing. She'll go through big changes. She'll become a teenager. Her whole body will change. Sometimes I wish she could be 10 forever. It's a great age. I hope she stays this lovely person.

Tuesday 06 October 2009: Sarah is happy to report that she lost another 1.3 kilos since 24 September and 3.2 kilos since 07 September so 7 pounds! :-)

Sarah says:
Even during a really stressful and crappy week with some bad eating and less exercise than the previous weeks - my diet seems to be working! I am trying so hard so I am so happy about this!!! I love when hard work pays off! It's such a good feeling! I feel healthier too, which gives me some good energy! This week is going better so far! Last week was very tough! It felt negative! This week feels like it's on a better track!

Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday 02, 03, 04 and 05 October 2009: Sarah forgot Flashback 1st of the month! Face the Day is fading away...

Heidi says (3 Oct): and that is only the start...

Heidi says (4 Oct): Horses!

Above photo is from today - Monday the 5th of October. I have the day off with my daughter and we will do the dreaded chore of sorting through her winter and summer clothes and getting rid of everything that no longer fits. It's a hell of a job but it must be done! It's cold today! Rainy! I am glad I can lock myself up in my house. Tonight I have to go to the obesity center. I am scared! It's been a bad, bad week. I don't want to get discouraged.
I think the above photo is from Sunday the 4th of October. I was happy about something. Can't recall what!
I like the above photo! It's from Sunday the 4th - that I am sure so the one above it must actually be from Saturday the 3rd. Don't I look like that strange apple? I couldn't bring myself to it him! One day it will have to happen but not yet. It's too human looking!
And the one above is from Friday the 2nd. I don't know why I wasn't smiling. I had been looking forward to the weekend. There was a lot of negative energy in the air in the week and through the weekend too. Nothing felt right! I hope this week will be better!

Thursday 01 October 2009: Sarah is having a hard week in terms of following DIET! and excercise!

Heidi says: new copper hair!

Sarah says:
I'm afraid to get on the scale Monday at the obesity center. It's too short a time since my last very successful visit there and I just feel like I haven't been able to follow all the rules this week - like I have had too little water and today I was at a conference all day so I ate some bad-for-me stuff. Also - I didn't bike as much as I have been. And there's some hormonal stuff going on. So in those respects, it's been a challenging week! I have less energy too and more back ache from sitting too much. I have less time to do my creative writing course too this week as well as last - and no time to read or to write in my journal for my class. There's just some negative stuff in the air. It's not been the greatest week.... Oh well - that's life I guess!

Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday 27, 29 and 30 September 2009: Sarah says goodbye to TSG and ASG and hello to greasy hair! :-)

Heidi says: No need to talk

Sarah says:
Above photo is from today - Wednesday the 30th of September - and boy do I have some greasy hair! How did that happen?! Must be hormones or something! Today, so many people called me Mrs. - not Miss. I guess I am at that age! It's just been so long since anyone used either of those titles for me that today when I heard it about 12 times in a row it was weird! I guess that's what happens when you are in a school around students almost 20 years younger than you! Good thing I still feel young!
Above photo is from yesterday the 29th of September. No idea what's going on with that pose. You rarely see me in white on here so there you have it! And of course I dribbled food onto the top part by the end of the day - which is why I don't where white! This photo was taken before my bike tire went flat mid-ride home from work. I had to walk it all the way to my kid's school in a mad rush - and of course I was late! That's the dark side of biking I guess! But this morning I went to the bike shop early and got the wheel fixed and put a down payment on my brand new bike, which I'll have mid-October when I return from Norway!
The above shot is from Sunday the 27th of September when ASG and TSG were still here visiting! It was so nice to have them here. I miss them already an will be sad when they move to Boston in November!!!!

Saturday and Sunday 26 and 27 September 2009: ASG and TSG are in town! :-)

Sarah says:
That's me above today - Sunday the 27th of September 2009. It's been a nice weekend because ASG and TSG are here with their bunny Buster and we are all relaxed and doing our own thing and hanging together. Below you can see a full shot - to track my weight loss. I ate like crazy yesterday so I probably gained some of those 2 kilos back but I tried to eat a bit less than I usually would. I did eat fries (homemade by Tom's mother - could not resist!!!) and falafal as well as dessert.Oh well! It's really the first big cheat and it wasn't even all that bad. I still feel good and I will be very good this week to come!

The above photo of of Heidi, Yma and me is from yesterday - Saturday the 26th of September 2009. Heidi, Nico and Yma came over to see ASG and TSG and to have lunch along with Tom's parents and brother and nephew. Heid also cut ASG's hair and Ayla's hair. The food was fab! The weather was great too and we took a walk into Kortrijk. Yma is wearing her birthday present from us in the above photo. She's a real queen!
Above and below some shots of Heidi the Hairdresser in action with ASG. ASG's hair and Ayla's hair came out really well. Check out Heidi's belly!!!!

And here is some of the great food we had (below)! Notice my new slow-cooker thanks to ASG and TSG and the soup I'm making in it as I write this! That's tonight's dinner! I'm guessing it's going to be very good!