For anyone interested.....I, Christi, am busy and active at sparkpeople.
I am christartist.

if you want our personal email address - just send us a note here.

We do have a myspace, but we visit it less frequently than we do this site.
And I, Christi,  have a facebook page - and it's feeling VERY ignored, even more so than the myspace.
We will be creating our own webpage that has nothing to do with connections with any online social network - but we will keep it updated, and will put that url here. Our friends will be able to keep in touch with us, and we will visit places as we have time.  Thanks for your friendship.

ttyl,
Jim & Christi

Jim and I are not on here very much - duh.
After we built his desk, we started on mine, which meant I was not in a comfortable position for webbing....
AND I am on a really neat team at Sparkpeople....all my tools are right there, and one of my daughters!

With the med changes, I ended up getting the weight gain with one of the meds....but I'm switching to another....and maybe that will help.
The endocrinologist has done and is doing tests on me, and I see the Rhuemotologist on Thursday...maybe we'll get a game plan - and I can start getting back into this game.
As to exercise...Jim continues with a PT twice a week - but I am still having a lot of pain with my legs.  I did take a walk with the wheelchair as a walker the other day.  It stablizes me - and if my leg gives out....Jim can push me for his own weight training for the day!

There are so many areas in which we have failed to meet our goals, but we are so much more enlightened about this whole health thing.
We have walked parks around here, and we have found things we love to do OUTSIDE! 

Thanks for being here for us along this path....you will probably get a lot of new faces with the new season....rock on!
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi

A long time ago, in a galax....oops wrong story.  Christi and I spent part of our honeymoon on the shores of Lake Erie.  While there we visited a pretty little beach.  I drew a heart in the sand, with our initials, the date and an arrow through it.  We put our footprints in the sand next to the heart and took a picture with an Instamatic Camera.  We've lost the print, but we have the memory.  And I've drawn the heart lots of times, with little squiggles for the feet.  Christi has drawn it much better.

So when she decided to put a design on my new desk for Father's Day, she naturally chose the heart....with just a few embellishments.

First of course you have to plan your work.  I had a 4x8 sheet of oak cabinet plywood that I cut down to 30" wide for the desk.  For the art, Christi did ALOT of thinking (several weeks of sketching).  Eventually she asked me to get some contact paper and  drew a series of hearts on it, as well as our initials.  She cut out an arrow.  The plan continued to evolved as she laid it out on the wood.

Here she is with the heart taped back together.  It ends up on the other end of the desk.



Course, any artist requires time to think some more.  She did a lot of this.  Lots of walking around too. 



The effect on the artist is not always pleasant.  (But I've seen worse)



Once she got it laid out, we covered the whole thing with 2 coats of gold oak polyurethane.  Then Christi started taking off the first set of masking tape to so we can make the next layer.



Art is often not very pretty when it is partway done. Christi created the different stains by mixing various colors of stain as well as putting on different numbers of layers. 




The concentric hearts were removed at different times, with some of them being stained in between.  After all the staining, Christi took a utility knife and scored around everything, then rubbed more stain in.  She also added color with various paint pens.  After she was done, I added at least 2 more layers of clear polyurethane, added a keyboard tray and fastened it to the wall.  We covered the edge with a corner piece with more of the golden oak polyurethane on it. 

A 3 panel panorama of the result.





The contents of the corner shelves are mostly an inspired marriage maintenance kit that Christi created for me prior to our 25th wedding anniversary weekend.  But that's another story.  The painting is of a bend in the Big South Fork River in Stearns, KY.  Christi painted it from a photo I took.  She also did the crossstitch to the lower right (yep, she loves me).



We also built a matching desk in the closet for a lab space (hey, I'm a geek).  The shelves are chunks of a very nice entertainment cabinet (5' x 6') that I rescued from the dumpster at our last apartment complex.  Notice the heart on the whiteboard.  That's what my versions usually look like.  Yeah she did that crossstitch too.



A closeup of the heart.  Christi hand drew the little feet, silver for the boys, gold for the girls.  Our "feet" at the bottom are actually the sides of our hands.  Each of the children had an assigned color (had to have some way to organize all the home school school work).  Their birthdays are in the fletches of the arrows in their own colors.  (The bolt has no meaning.  I forgot it was there.)

Ok - I wasn't able to do it this week - because I'm limited as to which events I can participate in and I was in the last week of recover and rehab....but, here comes the late entry!

My weigh in today was 225.5.  Over the course of all this medicine and injury stuff, I have gained 14 pounds.  And - I know why....emotional eating, boredom eating and no exercise....no walks.  But the meds are stablelizing, the blood sugar is leveling, AND my knee is recovering!
Last weekend we went canoing for an hour with our youngest daughter and her boyfriend....and we are planning a very active anniversary staycation - remodeling at home and taking hiking trips.

So - it's not an olympic event - but today I am reframing all my painting prints, which included cleaning, stapleing, walking up and down stairs, in and out of the house...kneeling and squatting and lifting and moving stuff.  I'm sure my steps would add up to quite a few miles!!!;-)
Monday I am entering into the Olympics full swing!!!
I've posted a starting photo on the Labor Day Challenge....I want to get back to my lowest weight in this challenge - but I will be happy with starting the downward direction again - so here I go!
~Christi

 I have put out invitations - if you didn't get one and want one, let me know!

I also set up the beginning photo album...photos of you doing summer stuff in the first part of July!

Remember to put a Labor Day tracker on your web site and let me know about your weight loss so I can put it on the webpage!

Let's end the summer with a BANG!

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Labor Day Weight Loss Challenge

Hosted by: Christi and Denise Date and time: Monday, July 14, 2008 at 11:30 AM Location name: The MPMU survivors! View this event on Windows Live

 Since I can't get the invite to work - I've opened up the permissions....so, go to the event and join up!

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Labor Day Weight Loss Challenge

Hosted by: Christi and Denise Date and time: Monday, July 14, 2008 at 11:30 AM Location name: The MPMU survivors! View this event on Windows Live

RIGHT HERE AT HOME!!!
We have remodeled Jim's office (used to be our youngest daughter's room - she can't move back now!).  It started as a Father's Day gift from me to him....and it took a little longer than expected, because HE wanted an art piece done on his desk!!!  I don't know where the photos are....but, I think with the fan up, his room is done.

So - next is my art room/sewing room/photo room/study room/office/guest room, AND grandbaby's visiting room.  At least I get to pick the colors!!!  AND - Jim's building me my ultimate art/study/office desk.  He built a bookshelf for me last night, the other day, he repaired one of my art cabinets...we've cannibalized a  pedestal desk, an art desk, a dresser, and a corner cupboard from a kitchen.  We've traded a love seat for a cool futon(for the guests and baby when he's bigger).   It's been a long time since I've had a place to store all this stuff where I can use it!  Some boxes I'm going through are still packed from a 2000 move.  In one of those boxes I found fabric that I had purchased because I loved it.  WELL - it's going into this room!!!  It is the color inspiration!! I'm going to do a funky wall treatment on a 'focus' wall....just because I can, and I'll be painting all the mismatched furniture as well as my desk top! 

We've been having so much fun....we really enjoy doing this kind of stuff together.  We have the master suite to redo....but there is some remodeling to do that we don't want to get into and get stuck before winter, so that will probably be next spring's big project.  We have more painting to finish....and at some point, I'm going to do a mural, and some other painting touches around the house (no stenciling....). 

And yesterday, we went canoing....and we are going to go again...and again, and again! I miss our kayak, but we'll do with what we can get at this point. 

I hope everyone had a great holiday - is enjoying the summer - and we're still here, just a bit busier than usual.
hugs,
~Christi

 I can't get the invite part to work - so I'm inviting all of you! 

Come Join Denise and Christi's Labor Day Weight Loss Challenge.
the goal is 1# a week -  this should give us a good goal to aim for.   With all our Olympic Challenges, we should be able to get 1# a week easy. 

Send a photo of now(or from the 4th of July), and plan to take a photo on Labor day - I'll upload them to this event!
Monday's are weigh in days....so set up a ticker and let me know how you are doing!
Let's end the summer with a bang!
~Christi and Denise

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Labor Day Weight Loss Challenge

Hosted by: Christi and Denise Date and time: Monday, July 14, 2008 at 11:30 AM Location name: The MPMU survivors! View this event on Windows Live

Ok, I wasn't online much this week - is it too late to join the challenges?  I don't know if it's too late for the photos for the opening ceremonies....I'll have to check out Danielle's site.

And, Denise and I are going to start a challenge for weight loss .... 10# between last Monday (July 7th) and Labor Day - a little more reasonable for us....but enough of a challenge to push us.

Let me know if you are interested....when grandbaby goes down for a nap, I'll try to put this out as an event!

~Christi

Well, it's been a long while.  I was going to blog after the July 4th race, but I had to pull out of the race due to back spasms.  I've continued to work out with Karl.  I've just started to see Carl twice a week.  This morning he told me that he is quiting the gym to work in a distribution center.  He can't make enough as a trainer to support his family.  So I get to pick/find a new trainer.

In the mean time, I've also continued to struggle with eating.  I've been bouncing between 225# and 230# every since the Flying Pig.  Now I'm aiming to get solidly below 225# before our anniversary.

Congratulations to all of those who've stuck with it, whether or not you've met specific goals.

Jim

Just checking....The challenge makers haven't been able to open in....and I'm wondering if I did it right - it shows up on our page....
July 3rd blog.
Thanks
~C

 

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YouTube - Martina McBride - God Bless America (LIVE)
  

 

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YouTube - Lee Greenwood - God Bless The USA
Music video by Lee Greenwood performing God Bless The USA

Ok - so - in the course of this wonderful time with ya'll, I've lost between 25-30 pounds.
And here are my photos of wrestling with about 28# of ....welllll, here it is!

This is back a few weeks - but I just saw this, and it's REALLY embarrassing - this is while I could not walk(or was not allowed to walk)....
I did not complete the 15# by July 4th - I'm up for the next challenge.....but, here's my photo:

Not going to bore ya'll with the details - no weight loss - no weight gain....
just got approved by a FMS doctor to go back to what I was doing  the first 3 months.  Apparently, the Lord blessed me with wisdom....I just have to do things at my level....not anyone else's level. Bad news - I will probably NOT every run because of the stress on the body AND knees....but, knowing that I can walk is great.
Brayden had his 1st birthday - photos up in our album -
As well as my SBIT photos - Oh Yuck!!!
I don't have any ugly Jim photos....sorry!
We're starting new and fresh here....we have the ok's...and we're moving forward.
Jim will be running the Red, White and Run 4 on the Fourth....and we're all excited about it.  Maybe by the next 5k, I'll be walking!
Hope everyone has a great fourth!  Stay Safe!
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi

The Lord really blessed with the anesthetist....as well as Rachel's wonderful Doctor....This time, the anesthesia was done so that - 1, she stayed under(she's woken up in the middle of the last two surgeries), 2, she did not get sick (as in, blood pressure bottoming out, 5 hours in the recovery to get her stable, and after 8 hours - vomiting in the parking lot at the hospital and at home!), 3, she was on her way home by noon with no nausea (as opposed to 5:30 PM, and vomiting in the parking lot at the hospital and at home!). She just had a cheeseburger....and the last time, she wasn't even home by now!
I had a good talk with the Anesthetist before surgery....and after....she gave her extra stuff - stuff for folks that are on chemo!  It did the trick.

Doctor Laing confirmed that this looked like a pretty definite fibroadnoma....and it wasn't one of the harder ones like last time.  So, hopefully all we do now is watch....and continue to pray nothing ever turns malignant.
Thanks for the prayers!
I sat in the recovery room talking about engagement rings with her boyfriend and our other daughter while she was recovering....and they were all talking about babies, <sigh>, my life is in a whole new dimension! And I'm loving it!
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi

Today our daughter Rachel goes in to surgery to have an already tested fibroadnoma removed....we know it is benign....she's had trouble with anesthesia before.....please pray!

I have said all along that this wasn't about the Biggest Loser show and winners - that folks that dropped off just let the cream rise to the top - but there are some things I just cannot understand.
Like - almost 100,000 people joining, and quitting before the first month was over.
Like - how many quit because they weren't the top 5????
Like - folks that said they wanted to help us - were on the calls - and just refuse to reply to any messages, though there had been a relationship before the finals.
Like - folks knowing that you sent them a thank you gift in the mail - matted, oak framed prints of my paintings, specifically that person had chosen - Knew UPS had it there(acknowledged in the only email response), said they were going to pick it up - then just let it go without so much as a 'oops', or 'don't want your junk' or reply to 'did you want this or not?' as if she were too 'something' to even pick up a package....I think it was refused. We paid extra to get it wrapped nicely - and shipped and if it wasn't for the great people at our UPS store, we wouldn't even be able to claim it back so we can give it to someone more deserving. Anyone want a copy of my paintings? (Ok, yeah - this one is specific - duh - and is not Stephanie).
And - in the last 8 days - those that posted on this site are the ones that won 'nothing'. None of the winners have posted in at least 8 days(I know they are busy, it's summer, etc. - but that makes my point). Without winning anything, and even with the business of life and summer, the non winning posters are still here, supporting the lifelong struggle of those that did this to change their lives.
To all those that have posted or read in the last 8 days, to those who did not win anything, but stayed to make a change - YOU ARE THE CREAM OF THIS CROP!
and to some of the others who have no time for those that were part of the whole package, even though you were in lights and on camera and on campus, you  are just curdled cheese.
Again, my hat is off to the real winners of the Million Pound Challenge.....YOU who are still fighting - and carrying on the message.
~Christi

Ok - I'm back down to were I started from!!!  So, a 1# loss. I've got my ugly picture ready, but I'm going to keep trying.
And today, I start some exercises!
I have this video from a hospital rehab that has you sitting down to do the exercises....I'm going to try that today.

Jim and I just researched a specific workout set that has rave reviews for fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue and other challenged folks. 
T-Tapp.
http://www.t-tapp.com/
And Jim was so impressed with the testimonies by Trainer Sue, and user Charlotte (on the front web page), and the forum threads about fibro sufferers getting relief....he bought me this set:
T-Tapp MORE Rehab Program - DVD
This DVD/9 set contains 4 workouts in 1: the T-Tapp MORE Workout (with and without instruction), T-Tapp Chair, T-Tapp Broom (an aerobic workout), Step Away (a walking workout), plus additional rehabilitative instruction for daily activity (how to go up stairs without knee pain, etc). With obesity at epidemic proportions in the United States, this program was designed to show everyone that we CAN be healthy and fit in less time (all workouts are less than 20 minutes) and without pain. Originally designed for people of size, this program is excellent for those with health issues (frozen shoulders, bad backs, knee problems, arthritic conditions) -as well as for those with more birthday candles on the cake (degenerative spine and joint issues usually increase with time without proper movement). Take the first step in rebuilding your health, wellness AND fitness with the T-Tapp MORE Rehab Program - you'll get MORE results in LESS time!
Special price $69.95 (regular retail $79.95) also includes "Yes You Can with T-Tapp" seminar, Measuring Tips, T-Tapp Measuring Tape, God Made/Man Made Dietary Program, Free 800# Tech Support and Free Online Support with Certified T-Tapp Trainer Heather Petrie (retail value over $150!)

I'm so excited!  And Jim spent a lot of time telling me yesterday that I'm not a failure....he had a very good 'talking to'  to me.  That is special - Jim's the team captain - tells you what to do, and may pat you on your bum, but I'm the team cheerleader....and when the team cheerleader needs a pep talk....he's not always been able to do it - but last night, he was so encouraging and supportive and loving - I just knew I could do this, and move on.  And every little step is a step further from bad health....and towards glorifying God and joining Jim and loving me.
Getting my water in.....food is great until after 8, but we'll work on that....now on to exercise!
I like to move it move it!
~Christi