AngelaW

Oh, Suzie. You are judging yourself too harshly. It sounds like they need to hear you call them out every now and then and be reminded that what you are doing is out of love and not obligation. I second what Kat and Tracy both said and want to add that if your health starts to fail, then nobody wins. You have to come first. Take care of yourself and know that your are loved. ...That's what attracted me to this group. The love and support I witnessed here through good and bad...I am equally glad to be able to call you friends. I am relieved to hear your MIL does not have cancer, Kat. I know you are still without answers and I hope they find them soon. Enjoy your dinner! Do you share your recipes? I am a terrible cook (although by the looks of it, nobody is starving here) and I love to try new things. I think I read before that you cook a lot with green chilis? You cracked me up with the "poop ball" story and the liscense plate. That is how we roll too...nothing is off limits for a laugh! Tracy, how was the awards show? Macy is such a cutie. We had a Choir program and awards show last night for Zach. It's such a joy to watch the little ones beaming with pride when they get their awards. They had a "most likely to fall off the choir risers" award...sooooo glad Zach didn't get that one. LOL! Michelle...HOLY COW! I would have been in a motel room somewhere. That would scare the hell out of me. I am OCD when it comes to locking doors and double checking them. To come home and find my dogs inside??? I hope you find answers too and they are not in the form of a break-in. Bethany, go ahead and send that bossy "B" over. Grrr....I do not like controlling people. Glad you could remove yourself before doing her physical harm! I am home sick today. I got up at 6:30 am, ran to the donut shop for Zach's school project (he was a police officer in a mock trial. He required a badge and told me that he wanted a box of donuts because that's what police eat...lol!) and ran him to school. When I got to work, I started feeling light-headed and hot, almost feverish. I don't know what came over me. I slept for about 3 hours this afternoon and feel a little better...just still not right. I hope everyone has a great evening. I think I am going to go hold the couch down. Angela

Good morning! Tracy, I hope you are taking a pain-free nap! What is going on with your hip? ...You are so right! We have no excuses. There is a Starbucks on Center Street, right?? Suzie, I am so jealous of your pool!! I just noticed you are from Missouri. My parents, grandparents and one sister live in the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas (Harrison area). We usually venture up there once a year and make the trip into Missouri to visit Silver Dollar City. Two years ago, we decided to go on a road trip to Wisconsin. My oldest sister's (I have 3 sisters) husband had a job transfer from Harrison to Milwaukee a year or so before. That was one of the best trips of my life! There were eleven of us: Mom, two younger sisters, me and our seven combined children. We took two vehicles and had walkie talkies to communicate. I should mention...my dad is a hard working no nonsense kind of man (that I adore!). A family vacation growing up usually consisted of visiting relatives somewhere. He would pull out the map, chart our course, factor in two fifteen minute bathroom breaks and a meal...and know within minutes our expected time of arrival! We still laugh about those trips. A stop at a rock shop or fruit stand was sooo not happening. On this trip, we managed to put our feet in eight states, stopping at every state sign to take pictures.(Imagine...eleven of us piling out in front of the signs, lol. We heard a lot of honking!) In Kansas City, Missouri, we decided that we were too close to Kansas not to make the trip over, so we did! We ended up traveling through Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee. We detoured many times...a milking farm, Russell Stover's (everywhere up there!), Metropolis (Illinois... pics with Superman!), and Graceland are a few I remember. The kids were facinated by the Amish farmer on his wagon in Iowa. One of my funniest memories has to do with my mom. When we were growing up, she taught the Mini Methodist (the pre-schoolers or as she called them m&m's-at our church). When they would go on a trip in the church van, she would wear these big bug-eyed sunglasses. It always made the kids giggle. Before our trip, we spotted them at the dollar store and bought a pair for everybody! We were cracking up passing each other on the road with our glasses on!! Wow! I don't know where all that came from, but I smiled the entire time I typed this!! Great memories...I needed that! Have a great day!!! P.S..... Kat, hanging in there?? How is Rick feeling? Jenn, I look forward to talking with you! Michelle, hope you are taking it easy still.... Cindy, how many more days?? Bethany...where are you? Hope I didn't miss anyone... Angela

I had to step away from myself for a little while! I didn't realize how bent out of shape I still was over that whole mess. Now that you guys have said it, it makes perfect sense! I bet somebody told him what I was doing. I guess at this point I hope what they said was spoken in a good way and not a negative way. What a way to start off in a new home, lol!! I just hope Mr. Turdy-neighbor does not plow over the duck eggs!! I had no business being over there....and really no right to be mad, but sheesh! For the sake of your neighbors and the neighborhood, could you keep it mowed? ((Closing that discussion!)) Kat, your husband has been through a lot. A very lucky man indeed. Mike has high blood pressure as well as sleep apnea, and he (we!) are still overweight. I worry all the time. We did manage to get away for a cruise earlier this year. That is my favorite way to vacation and with Galveston being in our backyard we don't have to fly or drive and it is very affordable. We usually go during the fall/winter/spring time because it is a lot cheaper. Well, it's time for me to get off the clock. I hope everyone is doing well and I will check in tomorrow. Oh...I facebook too! It may be too soon, but if you are interested, let me know and I will PM you my info. Have a good evening! Angela

Morning! I hope everyone had a great weekend! I ran out of here Friday so excited to get home and pack up for our little weekend place only to get a call from my hubby that he was going to have to work all weekend :tongue2:. We still ended up going but it's just not the same. He had to leave the house at 3:30 am both mornings and came home well after 6:00 pm. I am absolutely grateful for our jobs, but we just can't seem to get time off together. Mike works for a major refinery in the area and has been working almost every weekend so far this year. I worry a lot about his health; the stress on his body, lack of sleep and factor in the heat and humidity that we are already having...not a good combo. I spent the weekend picking at little projects. I re-stacked some wood, shop-vaccumed under the house and cleaned out my flower beds. We have huge banana trees lined up against the fence and I went and bought some bamboo borders (not sure what to call them) and made a long flower bed around them. It looks neat and tropical! There is a vacant piece of property to the right of our house. It has a concrete slab but no house. We were told by other neighbors that the guy sold the house 2 years ago(not the property??!!) and moved away. It is a corner lot and the grass is every bit of a foot high and the bulkhead is in bad shape. In the almost six months that we have owned our property, we have never met this guy or observed his property being maintenanced (mowed), On Saturday after many days/weekends of contemplating what might be hiding in it, I finally decided to go over and attempt to plow some of it down. I am not a fan of rats or snakes and I dreaded it getting beyond the point of mowing (who am I kidding...it already was!). I am silently cursing this guy while sweating my butt off and low and behold, guess who pulls up in his big fancy truck? Talk about an awkward moment! There I stand with my little push mower on HIS property. He didn't even bother to get out of his truck. I walked over and introduced myself, explained that I just wanted to get it cut back a little before the critters came out. He was not rude...just indifferent. He said, "Well, uh, thank you, I guess?". He said he was planning on brush-hogging it soon. Then he volunteered that he only lived a few streets over. That sorta made me madder. Really dude? You let it get this bad?? It now stands half mowed. I quit. In retrospect, I think if he were a gentleman, he could have at least filled my gas can back up. He didn't show his face the rest of the weekend... On a positive note, Zach and I found a duck nest hidden in all that crap. Momma was not moving! I just mowed around it and left a patch of grass standing to protect it. When she did get up there were 18 eggs (if they stick around, we will have to find some fun names for them)! Whew! This turned into a rant. I will come back when I can be more personable!! Sorry! Angela

Hi again! Yikes, I forgot to tell Michelle good luck in the job search. Suzie, nothing major planned this weekend. I have worked the past three Saturday's in a row and I am hoping for a break this weekend. Our terminal handles a lot of the cargo for Wal-mart. Sometimes if their ships or late or fogged or whatever, we have to come in and process their containers. Suzie... I am with Tracy, get tested please! Tracy, I hear ya girl. I am all about free/inexpensive summer fun. We used to hang out at the library a lot. Do you know about the La Porte wave pool? I think it is $25.00 per person for a summer pass and it is a blast. Actually, that pass will get you into all of the La Porte city pools. Deer Park may offer something to that effect as well. Man, it can add up at $1.00 a day so $25.00 for the whole summer is great! We bought a house in December that is located on a canal. It is my pride and joy...all 1350 sq. feet! It is on stilts overlooking Dickinson Bay. A long story short, this house we currently live in belonged to my MIL. She gave it to my husband who lived here with his ex-wife during their marriage (hence the need to get something of our own!). It made financial sense at the time to sit tight and not take on another house note (and we did for eight years). We have been looking here and there but nothing serious. We happened upon this house one Sunday afternoon while we were driving around and fell in love. The price was just right (still low due to Hurricane Ike) and we felt like we got an excellent deal. It needs a little work and by golly, we are at it every chance we get! I believe we will be moving there within the next few years. I want Zach to finish school in this district and once he is done we will pack it up! My husband is an avid salt-water fisherman (I feel like I have said that before?? Oh, well too tired to scroll back, lol!) and he has always dreamed of having a house on the water so this is it. It is very peaceful there and I enjoy the sunsets, shrimp boats and the ducks. We have a big white duck "Aflac" ...named by my son, lol, and "Peg-gy" because she only has one leg (sorry...we are terrible!). Anyhow, that is where I am hoping to be this weekend! I will try and log on tomorrow...if not I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Angela

Good morning! I just had a huge post and lost it!! Kat, prayers for all that is coming your way. I had to shake my head and laugh at your response to your MIL/SIL...Jesus was not above washing feet! You have a way with words that gets your point across in a tasteful way. Love it! Suzie, I am saddened by all of the cyst they are finding. I hope you get answers and relief soon. Tracy, are you ready for summer? We used to have a community pool in our subdivision but now they have removed it (buried it is more like it!!). I am glad Zach is going to high school this year and there will be plenty of football related activities happening during the summer to help combat him being bored. What do you and Macy have planned? Cindy, are you loosing your mind yet? Someone once told me the last days of school can be more stressful than the first! I am so ready for this weekend!! Have a great day everyone. Angela

Good Afternoon, Suzie, congratulations on the weight loss!! I am so happy for you. Hopefully your reflux issues will ease. By the way, are you near the "Pay What You Want Panera's?" I am not sure how that concept is going to work for them?? Tracy, how funny! I am glad you told me about them moving. They had a store on the left hand side of Exit 44 going towards Coushatta and then they tore that one down. Someone told us about the one going the other direction and now....they've moved again? LOL...They can run...but they can't hide! I will have to try that sausage. I zero in on the boudin balls!! I have never been one for gambling on the boats. I have nothing against smokers, but the boats tend to smell like a smoke pit to me and I usually leave with a huge headache. It doesn't seem like they are very ventilated (or maybe it's just me?). I am fly-by posting. I need to go get my kiddo from school. Have a great day!! Angela

Good morning! I am getting the hang of this!! What a beautiful weekend. On Sunday we took the boat out (Dickinson Bay-Tracy) and cruised around the bay. No hurry, no plans...just enjoyed the sunshine. Kat...LOL at your tipsy typing!! I am sorry to hear about your son. Words fail me...but I hope in time he wakes up and realizes how precious family is...and that life is just too short. Tracy...Coushatta!!! One of my favorite places to go! We try and go about twice a year. I seriously believe I could be addicted to gambling, so we have to limit our visits. Do you like boudin? If so, you need to take a right at Exit 44 instead of a left....go to Rabidoux's. It is a small store on the left-hand side of the road once you go over the bridge (past the big red barn, near the oak tree....just kidding!) They have the BEST boudin balls I have ever had! I hope you win/won big!! We are video poker players as well as blackjack. I won $2500.00 on video poker with a royal flush there about six years ago. Comp. rooms and food make your visit even better. I just recently heard you can comp your gas at a station on the property. Have you heard that? Suzie...what is causing your aspirations? That is scary stuff. I hope your visit with the doctor goes well! I know rainy days can be poopy, but I think they are God's way of telling us to slow it down! I am glad you got so much sewing done and I hope your hiney (is that a word?) has overcome it's soreness, lol! Crzytchr...I agree. We needed the rain so badly, but it was a lot in a short period of time. I imagine our brown grass will soon sprout up nice and green! What part of Louisiana are you from? Have a great day! Angela

Good Saturday afternoon! I am at work today and thought I'd pop in for a sec. Tracy, can you believe all the rain? We went from near drought conditions (again) to 2-5 measurable inches! I love it! Last year at this time, the Guadalupe River was flowing around 50 cfs and this year it is near 500 cfs! I am anxious to hear more about the book featured on Oprah too. I need something to click in my head! Family drama is the worst. I hope things ease up soon for you. As I said above, I am a step-parent of two. It was difficult for a long time and I wasn't sure we would survive it. My step-kiddo's mother just would not let up and all of our relationships suffered for it. I am grateful that they are grown men now and have a better understanding of what was happening then. That said, we are still a work in progress! Suzie, I am so glad you got a good night's rest. Must be all those prayers lifting you up! I wish I could crochet too. My grandmother used to make beautiful things for us every year for Christmas. I have tried... my rows are always crooked. The other problem would be that I have no patients! Michelle, Relay for Life is a great cause. Sadly, cancer seems to affect all of our lives in one way or another. I just want to say thank you for what you are doing (and teaching your daughter!). Kat....I hope all is well. I look forward to talking with you. I hope you all have a great weekend. My hubby is making steak and shrimp on the BBQ so I hope I can get out of here soon! Angela

Awww....Suzie. Much thoughts and prayers coming your way. There is a saying something to the effect of "If the Lord brings you to it, he will pull you through it". I believe it! Try and rest your mind and body this weekend. Everyone have a good weekend!

Good morning, Thank you for the welcome as well! Tracy...I am 34, married (Mike) and I have a 14 year old son (Zachary). I am also a "bonus mother" to two grown step-children. I spent a couple of years right out of high school in the Navy and now I work in the Maritime Industry in Houston. I live very near San Jac. College and I used to walk there regularly (free!) but I have gotten out of the habit. My schedule is pretty crazy here but I would like to get back to walking...maybe you could join me? I tried staying up with the Victorious Valentine's but I couldn't find the words to say...I preferred to read (which led me to you guys) than to try and write my thoughts. So...here goes. I got my band back in Feb. 2008. I lost 60+ lbs. in the first six months and nothing since. Sadly, I got really comfortable with where I was. I have always been one to drink when I eat which almost defeats the band, right? I do it to this day. I also know all the "tricks" now. Chips and ice cream...cookies....all the things that go down easy. I am also a self-professed Blizzard junkie. I would like a medium m&m with dip cone chocolate, please? Loosing weight the first time was easy. I was scared to push my band, scared of the damage I could do if I did. A couple sips of slim fast and I was full. Now I am bolder. I still drink while I eat. Much like the statements above, if I PB on something I just wait a few minutes and try again. Absolutely not what we were taught. My band is not failing me, I am failing it! I went from 276 down to 210 at my lowest and now I hover around 228, 230 (I haven't changed my ticker in ages). My husband was banded a week after me. He was having a lot of issues with heart burn and had his fill completely removed (for several months now) and has gained most of his weight back. He was not 100% for this band from the get-go but he was sold on the fact that it was reversible and not a permanent cut and removal like the bypass. We have since realized that our minds are not in the game..and until they are, we will not be successful. My fourteen year old is right at six foot tall. He has also become chunky and I worry constantly about what we are showing him and if he is going to need intervention as well. I pray not. He plays football so I am hoping that helps some. Wow. I am a closet blabber-mouth. That's a lot for someone who "doesn't talk"...lol. Thank you for inviting me again. Angela

Hi all....Kat is going to drag us all out! My name is Angela and I am well... one of your many followers. I followed a few of you as the "violets" and then moved over when you did. I have communicated with a some of you before: Kat...for advice, Suzie (you "caught" me before and invited me to join) and Tracy (not sure if you remember me, but I live in La Porte...right around the corner from you!). I want to apologize for not speaking up and making myself known. I am not much of a talker, but I have enjoyed following all of you in your quest with this band. You are a great group of women and quite an inspiration! In the future I will try to remember to log on as myself so that you know I am here...and if it's ok, I will try and post as well. Angela

Woot! It's finally Friday! Weighing daily is a hard habit to break. My biggest issue is throwing in the towel for the day when I make a bad food choice. Instead of accepting my little slip and making a healthier choice at the next meal, I tend to just say "to heck with it" and eat poorly the rest of the day. Of course I always tell myself that I can start fresh tomorrow..... I have to retrain myself to think meal by meal instead of day by day. I will never get to goal on my current way of thinking GAH!!

Another beautiful day and another chance to make this work! Jamie- I sure hope that having your gallbladder taken out cures what has been ailing you. Shiny- I haven't thought of jumping jacks in years! I am going to have to give it a try. (I immediately got a mental picture of black eyes. HA! Guess my jumping jacks will involve a really tight sports bra or an ace bandage!!) LOL. Things just aren't where they used to be, ya know? Ready- I am also glad that you had a true band experience. Sliming is the worst! I had an episode myself and I was amazed at the quantity. Where does all of that stuff come from?? I was blowing bubbles trying to get it all out. Sorry....TMI :smile2:. LilMiss- I have read on here before that steroids mess with a lot of people's weight loss. UG! You have a great attitude. It is a journey and you will get there! We all will!!! Tap- Good luck with finding a new tenant. Twenty months without problems is a great record. Just think: renovating an apartment= excersize! You are killing two birds with one stone...at least that is how I reason with myself when it comes to housework :sneaky:. Good morning and Happy Thursday!

A big AMEN to that! I have no doubt that I would be well over 300 lbs. by now if not for the band. Gonna dust myself off and keep on keeping on!

I'm here too! Just lurking around as usual. I love the idea of a master thread. I find it easier to chime in than to try and start a conversation. Today was a little rough. I ate everything that wasn't nailed down. Small quantities, but it seems like I ate all day. Tomorrow's another day....

Your cakes are beautiful! What creativity!

We are required to have fluro now with every visit. I understand the billing procedures. What sucks is how they changed the billing code to surgery instead of office visit. What use to be a $30.00 copay is now through the roof. What gets me is how if you have no insurance, it's $150.00. If you have insurance, they bill the heck out of your insurance company and then, as in my case, you still end up paying MORE than the person with no insurance just to meet your copay. WTH?? sorry...whining I know.

I am glad I came across this thread. I just downloaded all of my "Explanation of Benefits" from my insurance. It seems my doctor is billing the insurance under a surgery code for the amount of $1500.00 for fills and an additional $800.00 for the fluro. In speaking to my insurance company, they informed me that because a fill is considered "invasive", they can bill it as an in-office surgery. My co-pay is 20% as well. Of course the insurance is not paying the $1500 or $800 in full. They negotiate (as I am going to try to start doing). If you have no insurance it is $150.00 flat.

Bamboobabe, My band was almost closed, but not completely closed. As I mentioned above, I have not been an ideal bandster...food choice and portion size wise. I factor in stress, because my band tends to react to it. My stepson has been hospitalized five times since September of last year. The most recent in February and he ended up in ICU. I notice changes when I am stressed and when my monthly visitor is here. I feel tighter. I think this might have played a role in what has happened...as there were many, many stressful days during that time and watching what I ate took the back seat. Again, I take complete blame for my food choices, but how do you explain the band being THAT tight?? My last fill was on 11/11/08. My doctor told me to be on liquids for at least a week. I am going to try to stay on until I see him again (2 weeks). GreenChrysalis...Thank you for your words of encouragement. I am grateful that I have this band and for the opportunity to start over again. I know there are many that do not get a second chance...their bands slip or other issues occur...

GreenChrysalis, I finally got to see my doctor today. When doing the barium swallow, the tech told me my band was almost completely closed and that I had stretched my pouch. She asked if I had been vomiting alot lately. Nope...not at all. I am now completely unfilled. My doctor said that my band looks great, I just need to give it time for my pouch to shrink again. The only thing I can possibly think is that this is stress related (very likely) or that I ate something that irritated my band (more likely)? I admitted to not following the rules....so! Now I am back to square one. Liquids! GAAA!!! I have but myself to blame.

Irene, You are motivating lots of us!! I need to start posting daily as well. We are all in this together and I applaud you for your daily efforts! I ran 7.5 on the elliptical last night and found myself in amazement that I am only burning about 100 calories per mile. It seems like it should be more, dang it! **and it sure didn't stop me from devouring those 2 reese's Peanut Butter cups that showed up on my desk a while ago (at the small price of 220 calories for both). WTH!! I AM my own worst enemy!!!!!!!!!

YEAH!!! Good for you! I hope that the slight unfill takes care of your issues. What a relief! I was banded on the 14th. Wow. I just noticed when you said that...that I had the wrong date on here. LOL...been posting for a year and never noticed. Thank you for the update and keep us posted!

Wow! GreenChrysalis, we were banded on the same day. This band is sometimes a scary thing. I think about that when it is a bit painful to eat, something gets stuck...and especially now with the return of heartburn and having "stuff" come back up in my throat. I hate borrowing trouble, but I can't help but now feel like I may be damaging my tool! I also haven't had a fill in months. I think I started off a bit aggressive...wanting to get it off real quick like, lol. I had to stop with the fill after fill and just give it some time. As I mentioned in my earlier post, I got lax! I have not had any weight loss in quite a while. Actually, I have gained 4 lbs. I am eating a little more than I should and not making the healthiest of choices. I know I am probably in need of a fill, but with this hearburn issue, it is doubtful I will be getting one. Take care!