Good morning! It looks like I won't need to be breaking any stalls forcibly, as I am down to 194.0 this morning (13.4 pounds down from my original weight!). I am right in the range of 192-194 I was in for my brother's wedding this summer, and it looks SO much better on me than 200. My face, in particular, is looking much slimmer and less puffy. No hunger issues or major cravings, though I was having some head hunger when I smelled the bacon Peter made for the kids this morning. That will be all mine to enjoy in a few weeks, but until then, tea with a tbsp of milk is my fare.

The shingles continue to get progressively better. Though the entire area around my right ribs is still tender and the skin is tingly and hypersensitive, it can bear enough weight now that I can finish knitting the socks I began for my MIL for Christmas. The shingles struck right in the middle of my last minute finish-it blitz and I couldn't get them done in time. Once those are off the needles, legwarmers are my next order of business! It is getting too chilly under my skirts, even with boots and thigh high socks, so I'm going to add an extra layer of insulation to cover the gap in my boots and go up my knees. We'll see how that works out :)

Nothing else to report, really, other than that I am also able to do small chores again, like folding laundry and dishes. I have to b on my Vicodin and move slowly, but they get done. My energy is deceptive - I feel all right and begin doing something, but hit the wall of soreness and exhaustion much more quickly than I anticipate I would when I begin. That seems to be the toll healing is taking on my body. I am also sleeping long hours at night and still having a hard time waking up, from naps and the overnight rest, which seems to be a side effect of the painkiller and my body spending its reserves healing me and dropping pounds. It's not bad, just a bit of an adjustment. But every day I see an improvement in how I feel, so I can tolerate the (diminishing) side effects for the time being.