SC-Cindy

Happy Friday! Terry and Judy's Bobster, my mom says that the ornaments aren't too difficult, but she is also a beader and used to working with teensy-tiny thingies. Be bold and buy one! And then you will have another source of gifts to give to others. Let me know when you need my address. Jenn, awesome dress! And it looks great on you, even pjs and spanx-less. Pamela, a Hawaiian Christmas next year?!? What a dream trip! Need me to come along and translate into Spanish? Oh, yeah, you already speak Spanish! Oh, yeah, they don't speak Spanish there. Sigh.... that's definitely a dream trip for me! Kat, hurry and put up your antique sleigh and tree and post photos here. Wait--are you reading e-mail now? Stop! Go work on getting that finished, please, I'm dying to see it. Time to go get the Christmas things out of my trunk after today's shopping excursion. Dilliards, a dept. store here in the south, had an unannounced special on Liz Claibourne jewelry, and I bought 4 bracelets for Sunday School friends for $7.50 each. I can't even think of anything close to that nice I could buy at Wal-Mart at that price. Enjoy your Friday evening, everyone. Cindy

Michelle, I LOVE this dress! Particularly with the black lace overlay. That would cover a multitude of my faults. Which color are your considering? From your picture in your messages, I'd think you'd go for either the natural or the red to highlight your coloring. Cindy

Hi April banders (and others, like me, who joined a loving group of friends), Thanks to all for the warm welcomes. Pamela, I teach Spanish y podemos escribir en español de vez en cuando, ¿no? [and we can write in Spanish from time to time, right?] Kat, reading the story of your marriages before Rick made me want to weep for you, but here is a new friend’s ((tight hug)) and praise for not allowing your life to be what those men made for you. I just saw this quote and thought of you: “If fate means you to lose, give him a good fight anyhow.” by William McFee. You won the fight!!! Before flute choir rehearsal this afternoon, my mother came over and helped me set up and decorate the Christmas tree. She is 83 and not really able to put up a tree herself so since my family Christmas will be at my house, she’s letting me borrow her collection of ornaments. If y’all want to get an idea of how beautiful my tree is, visit this site: www. crackerboxkits.com I promise that I have no financial interest in the company! My mother has been buying and making the kits for six years or so and has a collection of over 100. And she continues to make more! They are so beautiful and our afternoon passed sweetly as she told me the story behind each one. Jenn, I loved the quotes you ended your post with. Thank you for sending them along to us! And come on down to SC. We do talk more slowly, but that’s so we can think of something to say that won’t be hurtful to others. At least, that’s my story. Chocolate covered peanuts vs. an omelette…Judy, please tell me why this band is so perverse as to let the one and not the other. Granted, the one that can get down is definitely my first choice! A Katie Couric hair-do—well, of course, he wants one since she’s such a cutie, Jane. Wow! Hope you’re feeling better by now. TracyKS, (AKA band starter!), you don’t need to say a couple of weeks. With your tight restriction, you’ll be down 5.1 lbs. in days! Suzie, when’s your test? You're in my heart. Michelle, your excitement over the Secret Santa gifts is too precious! I’ll bet you are so much fun to go shopping with. I may have missed a few posts, but it’s definitely time to haul myself off to bed. Hope each of you had a successful CTC day! Cindy

NOTE to SELF: Proofread B4 sending! Judy, like you I play the flute and sing in my church choir and also are (let's make that "am") in our handbell choir, plus I participate in two Bible studies weekly and facilitate a 3rd one. Just can't get enough of the WORD!

Time to introduce myself to a group of friends I've known since April--Hi, ladies! My name is Cindy and I live near Charleston, SC (hence the screen name) and began following your posts since April because I had my lapband put in one month behind you. You have each inspired me and encouraged me and cried with me, without knowing it, because I've read your posts daily. Thank you for helping me deal with the issues I faced from the surgical pain to the plateaus to the many successes. And thank you for honestly helping a stranger who finally got up the nerve to post because of your comments today about issues. Pamela, thank you for bringing up this topic, and thanks to each of you for adding your perspective. My fat issue was merely complacency within a good marriage and a hugely busy life as a school teacher. I've been retired for two years now (early retirement) and am an adjunct at the College of Charleston. I LOVE it there! No bathroom duty! No cafeteria duty! No breaking up fights in the hallway duty! No morning bus duty! No endless faculty meetings! Just show up, teach, love my students, and go home. It's a teacher's dream. Judy, like you I play the flute and sing in my church choir and also are in our handbell choir, plus I participate in two Bible studies weekly and facilitate a 3rd one. Just can't get enough of the WORD! I wanted to post this link to an article on cnn.com this evening about a lap-bander's success: Surgery helps woman drop 140 pounds, 10 dress sizes - CNN.com Info overload on my first post--sorry! It's been saved up for seven months. Cindy

I'm reading it now, about two-thirds through. Ms. Ali's struggles are the ones each of us has faced, is facing, and will face. A good read that reaffirms our choice of going for the lapband. And if you're thinking about the band, this book is a great encourager.

Go for the LapBand! For all kinds of reasons: $, health complications, food adjustments. Best wishes as you continue your decision making. Lapbander for 8 days, SC-Cindy

Hi y'all! I've joined the Bandlanders as of this past Wednesday and am doing well so far. Only a little soreness. My doctor was Dr. Balder in Conway, and he's terrific! Very personable and caring. His bariatric consultant is B.J., and she is an angel. Gives lots of support, answers, and love. Since I'm a self-pay, the surgery was done at the Rivertown Surgicial Center not Conway Hospital. I was in the operating room at 7am and back home at 11am. I had considered having the lap-band done at MUSC since I live only one hour from there and two hours from Conway, but I understood they have not done too many in Charleston and have a very long waiting list for the procedure--about seven months. Could someone who's been to their informational meeting confirm this? Thanks to all of you who are posting! SC-Cindy

Hi all, Thanks to everyone who has posted as an a-MAY-zing bandster! Your comments and insights have made my journey so much easier. I was the first surgery on Wednesday, showed up at the surgical center @ 6:15 and was home by 10am. My doctor also found that I had a hietal hernia (who knew?) and fixed that while there. No soreness EVER from any of the five surgical sites except for the port site. Still a little sore, but I'm very grateful for the teensy pain pills (I'm allergic to codeine as well). Some soreness in my shoulders, more so in the right one, so the heating pad has been most helpful. The gas has not been a problem. My biggest surprise has been how so not-hungry I've been. Today was my first try at a protein shake and that went well. Blessings to those of you who are yet to be banded this month, and grateful prayers to each of you for helping me on this adventure thus far. Time for a nap... SC-Cindy

Hi a-MAY-zing group! I'm writing from SC after reading your posts this month. I found out today that my surgery is scheduled for next Wednesday, May 23, and you all have truly convinced me that this is the right decision...even as a self-pay! Thank you to those of you who were banded earlier this month and even earlier today and have shared your experiences and are continuing to encourage those of us who are following your lead. You are such an inspiration! :clap2: And all my best to those of you, like me, who are awaiting the new you!