nightingale2u

Welcome to Bandland Fran... I hope everything went well with your surgery... be sure to update and let us know how you are doing as soon as you are up to it! Congrats! Darcy

A big Welcome Kim E! Congrats on being banded! Darcy

Thanks Theresa... and get that avatar posted so we can put a face with the personality! Darcy

Ahhh... the harsh realitys of being a grown-up... I hate it when that happens Alex! I remember taking a huge pay cut when I went from working in the hospital to clinical nursing. I was a single mom and it made things harder financially but the trade-off was my daughter seeing her mom on holidays and weekends and being much happier in general. It's just not fair that we have to give up one thing to have another. I'm sure you made the best decision for you and for your family Alex. Darcy

I hear ya Lisa... sometimes I feel like I could eat a horse... then I eat a tiny bite of dry chicken and sit in drooling misery for an hour till it slimes its way down. I have learned to listen and stop most of the time. Ridht now I have very little restriction so I feel your pain too Betty. Tomorrow... fill er up doc... mamma is a few quarts low on slime!

Oh Michelle... I'm so sorry that you are still having problems... please let us know what happens with your doctors appointment as we are all going to be worrying about you. (((hugs))) Darcy

Penni... you are awesome... and I am very proud to know you! (((hugs))) Darcy

Here I am... Here I am!!!! I was elected to be the hostess for the holiday family reuion of sorts... OY... a natural born hostess I am NOT. It took me three days to get the house in shape... then 4 days of overnight guests... and then two days to recover...lol. There were so many children running and screaming through my house that all of my maternal urges were completely extinguished... forever. Heck... my hubby had a vasectomy and I still won't let him touch me... just in case! I seriously missed the heck out of everyone and am reading posts like crazy to catch up on all that I missed. (((hugs))) P.S. Jamaica is lovely this time of year. Darcy

Yep... count me in! Darcy

Megan... I could just kiss ya! Can I think of anything I would rather hear???? Nope. Jack... I eat veggies... raw ones... cooked ones... itty bitty skinny ones... they go down without a fight! I'm working up the courage to try the wheat flour Pasta... it doesn't look very appealing... hmmmm... Darcy

Welcome Minny, I wish you the best as you choose your path to WLS! My sister had the RNY gastric bypass and I decided that I just couldn't handle the thought of altering my GI tract permanently. She does have the "dumping syndrome" which helps her control her carb intake but it is important to know that not all people have this side-effect from the RNY procedure. I can tell you that I was a bread/carb addict prior to being banded and now I tend towards hi Protein foods as my body seems to crave them. My sister is also struggling with weight gain now that she is almost 2 years post-op as she can eat a pretty healthy amount of food and has learned how to eat just the right amount of carbs to avoid dumping. She is still very happy with her choice for WLS and she looks wonderful. I can tell you that there are a lot of adjustments with either surgery and both surgeries are tools and can be defeated. I still struggle with head hunger but love that my band is adjustable and that my body can absorb nutrients as it was intended to. Good luck and hope you will find all the information you need to make an informed decision. Darcy

Thanks Miss Betty... I feel a little out of the loop... guess the forum doesn't stop just because I am busy playing hostess for the holiday! I am turning into a domestic wife-type... frightening. Glad to be back aboard! Darcy

I've got everything EXCEPT the Christmas tunes going! I guess I need to find the box that they are packed in so that my Christmas decor has the sounds to go along with! I'm ahead of the game this year most likely because it the first time I have not been working. It will be nice NOT to be doing last minute shopping! Darcy

So sorry Theresa Marie... I can only imagine how disappointed I would have been if my surgery date would have been delayed! Hang in there... (((hugs))) Darcy

I missed all of this Michelle! I am so glad that everything turned out okay! I think we all worry about erosion especially when we experience pain and I am so glad that everything turned out fine! Darcy

3 pounds up... ugh... gotta love the holidays! Going for a fill this Friday... thank goodness! I threw what was remaining of the pies away as they were YELLING at me to eat them! Zoe... I'm all for a Chicago bash... pizza an Oprah... what a combo! Hope everybody has a good week!

Well... Greg... we seem to be neck and neck with the one pound loss thang! I never thought I would be content with a slower weight-loss... but ya know what... I am. I would rather lose slowly and be less restricted for the time being. I know if I would hop back on the treadmill I would see bigger losses... but for now... my butt is stuck in front of the sewing machine. I am a nervous wreck... big family gathering at my house this Friday... quit smoking...again... AND... I attempted to highlight my own hair... LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL. Wait... let me look at it again... YEP... it's that funny. Congrats Michelle... Miss Becky Lynn...Pretty Marie... Miss Sarah... Mr. Greg and Sassy Lisa! Darcy

Look at what a Blossom you really are! WHat a purdy girl you are indeed! I think any of the pics would make a great avatar! Darcy

Yippie Teresa... glad your first fill is done and overwith! My port is tipped and difficult to access as well so I know how you feel! I finally have a Doc that can find it lickedy split and now our insurance will be changing! My first fill was nothing short of traumatic... for me and my Angel that tagged along... the second access to remove the fill wasn't much better... but the third one was JUST RIGHT! Maybe our ports will straighten out and fly right with time! Congrats. Darcy

You crack me up Greg... Well... I'm already half cracked... but never-the-less. Ryan... so glad you are back safe and sound in bandland! I am still thankful that I had a private room... I was in bed... out of bed... in bed... out of bed... pacing the halls...crazy outta my mind until I got out of that place! I kept feeling like I needed to attend to the beeping IV's and call lights that went off continuously all night long. There really is no place like home! Welcome back! Darcy

Okay... just one thing about the thong underwear... ummm... don't forget that a crack is a crack and that's where they were at. Not saying that each and every one of you don't have an adorable one... butt....

Teresa, You are a sweetheart and thank you SOOOOOOOOO much for the adorable hat!!! It fits PERFECTLY!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!! (((((HUGS)))))) I sent off a little note to you... let me know if it arrives safe and sound! Here I am... the hat model.

I am pouting cause I didn't get to go WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! Thanks so much for sharing the pictures Betty... I love the one out on the balcony! I love being able to put faces and personalities with the names! Miss Marie... You have been hiding your face for so long that I began to wonder if you had a third eye! Look at how adorable you are!!!! Darcy

Ryan... I hope you were able to sleep despite the pre-surgery jitters... wishing you a safe journey to Bandland and we'll all be waiting to here for your return home! Darcy

You know what my license plate on my minivan says????? DarLinn My middle name in Lynn but DarLynn was already taken. Ya gotta do what ya can to TRY and jazz up a minivan... Teresa... You'd be surprised that some men love pampered chef stuff... they love the "gadget" type things that change the apperance of food. When I see how many of them are walking around with a big slab o cheese on their heads at a Packer game... I'm thinking they aren't really that picky. Ya gotta stop it with the compliments girls... what if my head gets too big for my new hat?????????????????????????