[Lauren Sue]

Here's a quick update. Sorry I've been MIA. I was at my daugther's Volleyball tournament at Penn State all weekend and returned to find my internet connection wasn't working. Several days later I think we finally have it resolved and I'm back online.



Now that it's June, Looking Good Now Magazine's website shows my cover and part of my story. They sent me a link this morning, but I noticed that they said I went from a size 14 to a size 4. On the cover of the magazine it says I went from a size 14 to a size 2 (I usually wore a 2, but fit 0's too and was even wearing 0's at times during the photo shoot, but I know it had been decided to say Size 2). I called Logan, one of the editors, this morning and he said the size 4 was a typo, thanked me for noticing and they'd be changing it. Here's the link to their homepage, not sure if it's changed yet or not:



http://www.lgnmagazine.com/



I HATED this outfit they show me in for the website. Those sailor pants were so long and I had to wear really high heels so I wouldn't step on them and the sailor shirt was just plain ugly and kept falling off my shoulder. I had a few Tara Reid moments during the shoot thanks to that shirt. We were pool side at that point at the hotel where they had us staying. Luckily I had on a strapless bra, so no free boob shows for the hotel guests that were watching us. I also don't like the picture they chose, but I guess they really like to pick the ones with the giant smile. I'm in the process of shrinking and uploading photos from the shoot and will FINALLY share them with you when I finish. hopefully soon. They you can know the entire story of my experience being down in Florida for the magazine.



Logan from Looking Good Now magazine had also called me yesterday to tell me they wanted to add an update on me at the website and announce my pregnancy. They asked for permission to post a current pregnancy picture. I think that's very honest of them to show that I don't look like the cover right now, lol!



Anyway, the announcement is linked with Success Stories on the home page and you can see the pregnancy picture they chose here:



http://www.lgnmagazine.com/success/21



and a quick update on my teenaged son. He spent last Thursday through Tuesday in the psychiatric ward and was released late Tuesday afternoon. They've doubled his meds and have him continuing for at least the next 7 days in their day treatment program, returning to their ward every day from 9-3 (a hospital shuttle takes him to and fro). He'll most likely have to do Summer School after that to hopefully catch back up in school. It's been rough but we're taking one day at a time...

[Mellissa]

Call me crazy but I like that outfit on you!! It shows your 'petiteness' (is that even a word? ; ) well and is good colors for you. I think the article sounds great and the pics are even better!!! Quick question from the article though. Were you diagnosed with Parkinson's before or after Joey was born? For some reason I thought it was before but in the article it said you were working full time and had four kids when you were diagnosed. Just wondering.....

I am happy that Drew is doing better. It sounds like he has a tough road ahead of him and I wish him all the best. He has a great advocate in you and you have to stick by him. My brother has had so many problems in his life that I swear are the same as Drew is dealing with and it has devastated our family. My mom never really got him help and he has floundered since his late teens. I hope Drew will find his way and keep on his meds. He deserves as normal of a life as possible. What an ass his father is for not coming up to see him when he was in the hospital. That rejection has got to hurt him so badly and I feel terrible for him. Please keep us posted on his progress.

Mellissa

[RooBoosMom]

That is so COOL! I agree with Mellissa, too--I really like that outfit!

Thanks for the update on Drew, too.

[Lauren Sue]

Mellissa, on Jun 1 2006, 01:14 PM, said:

What an ass his father is for not coming up to see him when he was in the hospital. That rejection has got to hurt him so badly and I feel terrible for him. Please keep us posted on his progress.

Mellissa

don't get me started on his father. He truly was an ASS this weekend. Not only did he not visit Drew in the hospital, but he drove all of the way to Penn State this weekend but not for the reasons you think. Yes, it was his oldest child's 17th birthday AND she was playing in a tournament, but he came to Penn State to camp at a near by campground with his girlfriend and some other people, including her 5 yr old and their almost 1 yr old baby. He didn't come to any of Bri's tournament except for the last 5 minutes of one game when he just happened to be dropping off my youngest daughter who he decided, at the last minute, to take camping this weekend. I had agreed that he could take the girls to dinner one night at Penn State, but had no idea he'd totally ignore Brianne during the dinner, focusing ALL attention on Miranda (the youngest daughter) and even inviting Miranda to camp with him for the rest of the weekend (I was expecting a weekend with both of my girls). The entire dinner with the girls exDH and his girlfriend kept talking to Miranda about how they are taking her to Cancun with them sometime soon. No, Brianne is not invited because she's not a favorite. Neither is Drew, ofcourse. UGH!



Oh and you were asking when I got diagnosed with Parkinson's. I've had the tremor since December 8, 1999, but did not know it was Parkinson's until I was diagnosed in October 2001, 6 months after Joey was born. I just caught that "working full time" sentence in the article you mentioned, funny I hadn't caught on to that before. To be honest, I wasn't working outside of the home at the time I was diagnosed. I was working full time up until the day my water broke with Joey, a year and 3 months after the tremor began.



By the time you have "symptoms" of Parkinson's disease your body has already lost up to 80% of your dopamine, so obviously I've had the Parkinson's longer than the day I felt the first tremor. The one thing I didn't like in the article was how it implies I felt "hopeless" about my PD diagnosis and the fact that there is no current cure. My kids even joked the first time they read the article pretending to cry and say "WHAT? There's no cure? Why have you always mislead us". Way more HOPE than Hopeless in this house! I've always tried to hold on to the hope that a cure for PD is just around the corner. I did feel hopeless about my weight gain and figured that because of the increasing weakness I was experiencing from the PD I'd never had the energy to exercise off the weight I'd been gaining and that I was doomed to be heavy forever. Thank god for Mari Winsor...

RooBoosMom, on Jun 1 2006, 03:12 PM, said:

That is so COOL! I agree with Mellissa, too--I really like that outfit!

Thanks for the update on Drew, too.

Thanks. My Mom said she liked the outfit too. I never (or barely ever) wear red, so that may be another reason I didn't like the outfit. Thanks again....

[Gin]

TFS Lauren Sue. I think the outfit looks good, and you wear it well.

OMG, I don't know how you didn't "knock out" exDH. Grrrrr, that would infuriate me. Favoritism....How can he do that???? Poor Bri, this weekend was her weekend and he must have really upset her!!

Once again, LS, that for the links. It's a good thing you post them, as I would never know where to find it online. LOL Other then this site, I really don't spend much time online!!

Gin

[Lauren Sue]

Gin, on Jun 1 2006, 06:52 PM, said:

TFS Lauren Sue. I think the outfit looks good, and you wear it well.

OMG, I don't know how you didn't "knock out" exDH. Grrrrr, that would infuriate me. Favoritism....How can he do that???? Poor Bri, this weekend was her weekend and he must have really upset her!!

Once again, LS, that for the links. It's a good thing you post them, as I would never know where to find it online. LOL Other then this site, I really don't spend much time online!!

Gin

Thanks Gin and I'm glad the links were helpful! And Yes, Bri was pretty devastated by her Dad's behavior but this is nothing new. Amazing how self-centered he can be. Each time he does that it's a big reminder of why our marriage ended. Thanks Again

[bblessed]

Welcome back LS! I'm still searching for you at the store (been to Wegmans almost daily this week and my pocketbook shows it...lol!) and will probably have to make a trip to Wal*Mart over the weekend since the May issue was still on the newstand...ummm...I think it's June now...lol! I sent the link to my sister and she thinks it's so cool!

Sorry i have to disagree with you - I think you look great in the sailor outfit!

I hope Drew continues to improve and your ex is a jerk!! I'm sorry he shows favoritism towards one child over the others. That is just not right. Were you able to console Bri and Drew? I can only imagine how upset Bri must have been since she was there just for the tournament. Did you confront your ex about it?

((((((Hugs)))))) all around,

[okatybug]

I think you look fabulous in your outfit! I also love the preggo picture. I can guarantee you I never looked that good with any of my pregnancies

HUGS for Drew. Hope he is doing better this week!!

[ali&gabesmommy]

TFS Lauren Sue. I'm eargly waiting to get my copy of LG. For some reason, both our WalMart and HyVee dont stock them till mid-month. And ever since you've been talking about this mag, I've been buying it! Its pretty motivational! (i just finished reading the May issue). Anyway, just wanted to give you another "you look great" compliment. Cant wait to see BABY pics!!!!!!!!!