phyllser

Okay.... dr. visit... first radiology.. esophogram, I think they call it. Barium swallow, basically. Swallowing was okay except for slight "sliding" hiatal hernia. Then they gave me that pill to swallow... took two glasses of Water before it went down. They said my esophagus looked better but still somewhat dilated. So, she didn't want to put any Fluid back in until she consulted with the doctor... they work as a pair..she's a physicians' assistant, and she's the one I usually see. So... she has me get dressed and go back to the clinic. I go through the intake... weigh, etc. I gained 4.5 lb according to their scale... in 2 weeks. BUT... that was after a glass of barium and 2 full glasses of water and I finished my whole 16 oz jug of Crystal lite just before all of that! AND.... I didn't dress to weigh, I dressed for the stinkin' weather... cords and a long sleeve turtle neck! So... I'm stickin' to my story... 2 lb. gain. So.. after all that... long, repetitious interview that we just did 2 weeks ago... how much are you eating, how long are you taking to eat, what meds, etc., etc., etc., intake girl says... okay, you can go back to radiology. So I said... "OH... we're going to put fluid back in!" PA wanted to wait 2 more weeks, but Dr. said it was okay to put back half of what i had. So... back to radiology where everything went fine. We did have a discussion as to what I could do to get my weight loss going again. She said my one glass of wine a day and my SF, FF latte was fine. She gave her blessing on that. She wants me to do a food journal! UGH! And cut down my carbs. And then we talked about how to increase my exercise. That's when I told her I was thinking about getting a dog. She got so excited when I said that! Said very first bariatric conference she went to one of the experts was lecturing and said that if you have a patient who is having trouble getting in enough exercise, tell them to GET A DOG!! HAHAHA! And if that doesn't work, tell them to get ANOTHER DOG!! I should've taken that opportunity to ask her to put it on an Rx!!! So I could give it to Earl. Can't work because his wrist is broken??? HUH???? And underwater welding!?? That IS an interesting occupation for Montana! IF I get a dog, Earl will warm up to it. BUT, he will continue to harp on the expense of having a dog, we can't travel anymore, etc., etc., etc.! Yeah.... hope everything goes well, Candice. Thought about doing that years ago... Chris and I joked about doing it together, but that was before his eye cancer. He is flying his plane back down to CA today, BTW, and we're concerned because he's going to have low clouds well into OR! He is going to follow I-5 south, but he'll have to stay below the clouds and that will be bumpy! Earl is very concerned! We'll breathe easier when we know he's safely home. His plan was to stop in Medford tonight and meet up with Kellie and the girls... they're driving home in their van. Just talked to my Mom a little while ago.... her 88th birthday today. I slept hard last night, too... but only because I took 3 Ibuprofen again because my shoulder was hurting again! Put in a call to the dog lady to see if she still has the Shih Tzu. Waiting for her to call me back. Want to go look today. Was wondering what I could give her for "collateral" so I could bring the dog home for a few hours and see how Candy reacts! I "talked" to her about it last night! (LOL) So this morning when I went to pet her head as I walked by she swatted me!!! What's that about!! HAHA! So... Earl knows I want to go see the dog today, so now he wants to go to a movie! UH... I don't think we've gone to a movie since the last windy day in the desert!! I was thinking of going to the gym!

Well... I just wanted someone to go with me... don't know the lady... she lives on a farm she said. And I wanted another opinion... or confirmation, I guess, that this is the right dog for me. Besides that... I think when I said that I was having my glass of wine. Yeah... I can drive... love to drive, in fact! Especially in my NEW car!! And I think I'm a much better driver than the person I live with!! LOL Are you serious???? My computer was online without me!! I rarely turn it off. I sign off FB and close my browser and leave it on. I got up a little before 7:30 a.m. Bad night with shoulder hurting all night. Couldn't get comfortable. Skipping Primetimers this morning... We'd have to rush through lunch and leave by 12:30 p.m. to make it to Federal Way by 2 pm. So thinking I should jump in the shower and go get the dog!! I am sure dragging my heels, huh?? Keep thinking... maybe he's right... maybe a dog would be too much... complicate our traveling. But I want one so bad!! :laugh::thumbup::sigh::tongue:

Yeah, I think I look a lot younger than the mirror says! LOL I guess I FEEL a lot younger than the mirror says!! Thinking of you in the dentist chair this a.m. Resort will be fun! Lucky you! Hope you have nice weather!! Woke up to 48 degrees and rain. Shoulder hurt all night long.... weather, and this morning had to take some ibuprofen... wrist hurting too.. all weather related. My joints don't like it when it gets cold and rainy! That's right... we ARE LOVELY!! I'd vote with you!! Good opportunity to replace the car with a new one! Julie.... we were posting at the same time! Hope all goes well with your tooth problem! What a pain! Laura.... we'll be waiting to hear about your Dad! Praying all is well! Hugs to all.... including anyone I may have missed!

So sorry to hear that, Denise! HUGS!

It is truly lovely and beautiful!! Yes... bring sweatshirts, ladies! AND shorts, and long pants, winter and summer! Because the weather here is completely unpredictable!! WE will have a good time no matter what the weather does!! If it gets really cold, we'll heat up the wine! HAHAHAHA! So... I've only had two very small glasses of wine, BUT... must be too much for me because Obama is making sense to me. His address on the oil spill was NOT offensive and I can't stand the man. AND... now I hage the guts to go get the puppy, but now I can't drive and Earl wont' go with me. He wants NOTHING to do with it, but says...go get it if you want it. So I tried to get Tracy to take me. But she says she has to go to the mall to order her iPhone. She's getting the new one. OH.... I want that TOO!! I have my mad money account! I can buy the puppy AND an iPhone! LOL P.S. I DON"T have to go to jury duty again tomorrow and I've been excused for the rest of the week!! YAY!!

HAHA! "The Graminator" is what my son-in-law had my three youngest grandchildren calling me after my knee replacement last summer! I love it! Good luck with your fill today. Hope to be getting fluid back in my band tomorrow afternoon.

If I give you my phone number can you call and tell him all that??? LOL! Wow! You're stickin' with the boot camp thing, huh? Any more earthquakes?? Didn't even get a mention on the Today Show this morning! Step-grandson said there as another this morning... like 4.2, but he's in Temecula. Did you feel anything there in the desert??? Have you looked for liquid Ibuprofen?? Kind of sickening sweet, but one way to get some anti-inflammatory down without aggravating the tummy. I agree with everything you said... but, easier said than done unfortunately!! When we're in CA he has his airplanes and lots of buddies. Here-nothing. He's not flown his planes at all... weather sucks!! You sure about the ant hill thing??? LOL

LOL! Unleash the beast!! HAHA! Enjoyed reading your profile! NO... it didn't go away...it's there! Hope everyone has a GREAT day!

Saw some comments about the EQ on FB. Epicenter must have been closer to you than LA/SD from what you said. Yeah.. think Earl could definitely benefit from an anti-depressant, but he'd never ask for one, or agree to take it. The stupid Skinny Cow Truffles... they're not MINE!! I don't care if he eats them.. or how many. I shouldn't have said "did you eat them?", I should have asked if he "MOVED" them! The freezer looked rearranged... and when I took one yesterday.. there were 2 more left... so I wanted to know if he ate them or they were still in there somewhere! So what do you gals think of the puppy pictures?? One concern I have... ya think too much hair??? Will need grooming quite often, I think!

"Chunky Monkey"??!! That's terrible! She'll never forget that nickname! Welcome! Always have room for one more! Apples.... you're only home for ONE day??? Gosh... we miss you when you're gone! Can't imagine you going back to work. You're too busy to go to work! Lori... hope the weather gets better for BOTH of us SOON!! It's still not reached 75 here this year!! And tonight it's raining AGAIN! Julie... hope you get some relief soon! Can't imagine living with that much pain. You need to try to take it easy. You're SOOOO busy! Eva... yes, we all enjoy your photos and your business! I love to read ALL the posts. I am still looking for a puppy. I found this one in the paper today. Talked at length to the lady and may go see the dog tomorrow. It's a 6 mos old Shih Tzu, female, under 6 lb and shouldn't get much bigger, already house trained, doesn't bark. Sounds perfect for me. Just have to find a new home for me or have DH go live in the RV!! LOL Here's photos, and another photo of my darling grandpuppy, Gigi! She somehow managed to scratch her eye and then it got infected so she has to wear this hood.

Oh, my goodness! We're in the Lake Stevens area... barely 10 miles from Marysville!! And I was born and raised in the Buffalo area... Western NY!! Went to school in Cheektowaga! DH went in the AF a few months after high school. We were married several years later and off I went to CA. Haven't lived in NY since except for one year when he was in Viet Nam and one year when he was serving a remote tour in Alaska. Going home for a family wedding in late August, and to see my Mom who turns 88 yrs old this week!

Yeah, he should have gotten off his butt and went to the gym today, too! Sure didn't burn many calories lounging in his chair stewing and sleeping! GEEZ.... almost 46 years!! He's gotten VERY cranky in recent years! Always pissed off about something or another... stock market, me, politics!! He's not fun anymore! Now he's all mad because I asked him if he ate the last of the Skinny Cows! No big deal... I just went across the street and bought 2 more boxes. Just didn't know if he moved them or ate them. I can't tell you what his answer was! It was nasty. UGH! OMG... he's snoring again. I don't know how one person can sleep so much! Don't have to go to jury duty again tomorrow and changed my PT appt to this afternoon just in case, so now I have NO PLACE TO GO tomorrow!! Tracy & Jim babysitting their granddaughters, so can't drag her to see the puppy with me! I just might go to a movie by myself! Need to find some girlfriends to hang out with! One day at a time, Kiddo... you'll get it all done. So you have a storm tonight?? I can't believe it, but when I just went across the street to get some more Skinny Cow Truffles... it's raining AGAIN!! Better not complain... we lived in or near Oklahoma City for over 15 years... they got a foot of rain in 3 hours today! Our former pastor posted photos of his house and neighborhood... we've been there many times... house okay, but everything from the end of the driveway and across the street under water! Weather lady is just report a 2 day "trough" of rain is about to swoop in! Great! They promised us no rain all week! That didn't last long! Oh... another source of my frustration today... up 2 1/2 lb at my TOPS weigh in! Weekend... especially yesterday... I had some of that potato salad, pulled pork but no roll, some cole slaw and some baked beans. Plus we went out to lunch after church.. turkey melt and a cup of chili! Not a good food day. Pictures of puppy I am hoping to go look at! Photos from online ad. Oh.. and a picture of Gigi wearing her hood... scratched her eye and it got infected! She has figured out how to wiggle out of it though!

A few more pictures from yesterday. Among them.. my silly dil, Kellie, and Rachel pretending to fall out of the hammock.. I THINK she was pretending! HAHA!

Wow! Welcome to all the "newbies" today!! Glad to have you join us. This is a great place to come for support, advice, encouragement, etc. on this weight loss journey! Thanks to all for the kudos on the new hair color. I think I will add a couple of pictures where you can see it better. We had a family picnic yesterday since our son, Chris and his family are in the area to pick up their oldest daughter from the U of WA. He flew his plane up here, so we'd hoped he could fly it up to our area yesterday but it was too "bumpy" so he drove up with his wife & kids. We had a great afternoon, although the weather could've been a little warmer!! We were able to sit outside on the front porch at our oldest daughter's fora while, though! Not a great weekend for food. Too many temptations yesterday. I restrained myself, but my weight was up this morning. Pictures... me and oldest son, Chris, me and grandson, Justin, Our three oldest, Chris, Tracy, Jodie, & and Dh, me and our two daughters, Jodie & Tracy.

Ditto what Janet said, Candice!! My one word for today..... DEPRESSED!! Later, Chicks.

Phyllser--I am so sorry to hear about the "speed bump". Sincerely hope all goes well with the test and you will get back to normal and no more complications once they start putting fluid back. I joined a gym this past month, too. So...in addition to the pool PT, I'm using the gym several times a week to ride the recumbent bike and use weight machines for arms and legs. Congratulations joining the gym wish I had your enthusiasm. :thumbup: Think I totally lost that when I graduated from high school. Understand the pool though as use to swim and water ski a lot and totally love water. Of course, during this time when you have no restriction in that band working out will help keep the weight off, of course it will definitely help when the band is filled again. Keep up the good work.:waytogo: We had a nice day of summer yesterday.... finally reached 75! But the clouds are back this morning. Weather report said it would be nice today with clouds coming in later in the afternoon, but.... woke up to a cloudy day! We are having rain, rain, rain and more rain. The creeks and rivers are either out and there are flash flood warnings or the rivers are at bank level. When there isn't any rain, then the temperature goes up close to 90 degrees or above and the humidity is about the same. yuck. Not use to the humidity and I myself don't care for it. Sweat is not my favorite word or smell Here's a picture of one of our "grandpuppies" who thought she'd like to be a lap dog like the little one!! Good look'n dog, but if he is just a puppy, do believe he is going to be a "big" dog and is going to have to have his own chair as it looks to me that your lap is small. Thanks for sharing the pic. And again good luck with the test and that all goes well. But I know you will be just a-okay. LOL! Well, I guess Misty is probably about 1 yr old now, so probably finished growing! She is just so cute! She saw little Gigi on my lap several times getting lots of attention and she wanted some, too! TOO FUNNY! Still smiling about it! See... we just needed ONE person to step up and say, "HEY! Where is everyone???" Welcome back, Doddie!! You may need a bit more of a fill. I have been hovering between about 196 and 202 for MONTHS and it's getting very frustrating. And now... no fluid at all for a few weeks. So far I am holding steady. Go back Wed. for reassessment. I'm thinking... about the "stall", that I weighed 200 for quite a few years and maybe my body wants to stay there! But I want to lose another 50 lb so I'm going to have to shake things up!

It was so funny! Misty is a sweetheart. She doesn't know she's too big to be a lap dog! She saw Gigi on my lap and licking my face and getting all kinds of love, so she wanted some, too. So first it was her head on my lap, then up came the front paws and she was on my shoulder and licking my face, then... we couldn't believe it when first one back leg and then the other came up on my lap. By that time Tracy and I were laughing so hard she could barely get her phone out to take the picture!

Good Morning! I guess great minds think alike! LOL! I was looking at our thread last night and almost posted something. Wondering how Don and his wife are doing. Haven't heard from them in a long time. I've hit a bit of a speed bump this month. Was having a lot of reflux at night. Coughing, and then started bringing stuff up during the night. So I went to see my surgeon and they did a barium swallow. Said my esophagus was dilated. And I was too tight... things just not going down right. So they took out all the fluid. I have to go back on Wed. for another test and then maybe they can start putting fluid back in. So I'm being very careful about what I eat. Comforting to see that my eating habits really have changed! I joined a gym this past month, too. So...in addition to the pool PT, I'm using the gym several times a week to ride the recumbent bike and use weight machines for arms and legs. We had a nice day of summer yesterday.... finally reached 75! But the clouds are back this morning. Weather report said it would be nice today with clouds coming in later in the afternoon, but.... woke up to a cloudy day! Here's a picture of one of our "grandpuppies" who thought she'd like to be a lap dog like the little one!!

New Mah jongg game I'm playing is on the Fandango site. Was actually looking up movies when I accidentally found it!! Here's a really funny picture of me and one of my "grandpuppies" from this afternoon. Don't know if you can see the new hair clor very well or not... but I love it. This silly dog is one of DD's outside dogs, Misty... she was jealous because Gigi was getting so much lap time and hugs from Grandma, so she decided she'd get some, too. She was in my face licking me and I was hugging her and talking to her and first up came the front legs, and next thing I knew she had her back legs on my lap, too. DD & I were laughing so hard she could barely get her phone out to take this picture!!

AMAZING pictures ladies!! Here's a picture of me from this afternoon... with one of my "grandpuppies"on my lap!

Took Gigi home this afternoon. Such a beautiful day... we sat outside on the porch for several hours! Had too much wine. We actually had to move to the back porch for a while because it got too hot in the sun in the front. Later, we moved back to the front! Exercise... front, back, front!! HAHA!! Actually, I got in a lot of walking with Gigi here for a few hours. Have to show you this photo... Tracy & Jim have two big outside dogs besides Gigi, their little inside dog. Misty and Shadow. Misty is only about a year and a half old... she is a kick! She saw all the lap time Gigi was getting and she wanted some love, too. She is HUGE! She came over to me for some snuggles.... put her head on my shoulder, etc. so I was hugging her and talking to her and next thing I knew... first it was her front legs in my lap... then the back legs! We were laughing so hard Tracy could barely get her phone out to take a picture!

DD & I got our hair cut and colored the other day, too. I really like mine.. blonde highlights. Turned out good... didn't like the way she styled it, but cut was good and I fixed it my way the next day. So I like it just fine. Didn't get it as short as I've been keeping it the past few years. DD didn't care for hers though... can't see any highlights in it at all... and she charged her $100, plus she tipped her a 20 because it was DGS's girlfriend who did it! I wasn't THAT generous! She gave me a 40% discount... I think because it was my first time there.. so $66 and I gave her $75. Helping support the girlfriend because DD & SIL want DGS OUT of the house by July 1!! They're suppsed to be moving in together, but... we're not supposed to know this. We get our info off of the girlfriend's FB page, or from DGD!!! LOL So.... DD came over with my sweet grandpuppy, Gigi, and we took a long walk. Later... as she was leaving.... my DH, who does NOT want a dog, asked if Gigi could please stay here for a while and we'll bring her home later!!! Go figure! He'd love it if we had a dog! And I'm getting in lots of walking today!! Just walked her around the whole condo complex again! Seriously??? Threw away all the clothes you wore that day!!?? That's funny! Anyway.... I think I look better if I tilt my chin DOWN and to the side a little! Why no profiles?? Interesting info from a photographer! He must know what he is talking about!

What's a dremel??? Tracy came over and walked our "lake loop" with us... 3 miles. I'm thinking it's time for me to try it without the scooter. Anyway, Gigi walked wiht us. Then Earl went to the gym and Tracy & I went first to Surf Shack and got our latte, then we came back to the condo, left the scooter here and walked across the street to Albertson's parking lot... fire dept. having a health care fair there today. Browsed around a while and came back. Earl was home when we got back. So he talked Tracy in to leaving Gigi here!! No, he doesn't want a dog!! So we'll take her home later this afternoon. In the meantime, she's pooped out on my lap after all that walking! Actually, my dr. appt is this Wed., BUT, if I have to do jury duty I'm going to have to cancel it! As it is now, I called their automated number and I don't have to show up on Monday. I have to call back after 5 pm Monday to see if I have to show up on Tuesday. But if my group is not included Monday, I'm hoping they have enough people in the other groups that I don't have to go ALL week! I hope, I hope, I hope! I have things to do and places to go!! I'm doing fine with no Fluid in the band, though. Dealing with the hunger pains, but still 198 on the scale this morning. I had one whole wheat toast and one egg for BF, one whole wheat bread and 45 calorie hot dog for lunch, and about 1/2 cup coleslaw. I made another huge bowl of it yesterday. Earl chops up all the stuff in the blender and then I do the dressing. He put in a head of cabbage, a handful of carrots and some onion. I used apple vinegar, Splenda and a little Lite Miracle Whip.

Here I am!! I was playing that stupid Mah Jongg game last night. FB did away with Challenge Sudoku! GRRR! So I found this game online and now I"m hooked! So... dinner last night was one grilled chicken thigh... boneless, skinless, and some green beans. Had 100 cal Skinny Cow, but don't remember if it was before or after dinner. At any rate, small dinner, so I got hungry and had 2 of my crackers again, with lite cream cheese and oysters. The whole can of oysters is 170 calories and I usually get 4-5 snacks out of it. I had a 60 cal pudding before bed! Tough fighting the hunger pains. I think I did okay with calories yesterday though. Getting ready to go to gym... in a few minutes. I will ride recumbent bike for about 1/2 hr before PT in the pool. Kind of neat that Earl is going with me most days. He LOVES the sauna! He uses several of the wgt machines, treadmill, eliptical.. for about an hour, then sauna. Later, Chicks!