Apples2

Will check it out, LauraK...thanks

Jodi...try not to panic...see if you can talk to the judge and get him to reconsider. I do not know how things like this work but maybe if he took the time to study up on her file and what has been suggested in the past, he might see the light. Do you have any friends of friends of a friend who might be an attorney that could do you a favor and go to bat for you right now. Sending hugs from MN....this just sucks

Eva....nope, haven't had much "me" time to even think about ordering a Nook or Kindle yet. We gave DS a Kindle for his bday along night away at a Holiday Inn with is GF and nice dinner and we take the kids. He has yet to order it because he has been booked also. He did a lot of research and that's what he wants instead of the Nook. I am going to see how he likes it and then order what I think I want at the time. 3 months is pretty good on a charge. Would be nice if cell phones were the same. Was out and about most of the day. Had a dental cleaning and a bit of an adjustment. Went and got some supplies and home about 2:30. The wind was terrible. We had thunderstorms starting at 2:30am (and, yes, Tanker was in the room to wake us) and it is still raining a bitter cold rain. I had a tough time getting the door opened on my car when I wanted to get out. Nasty. Tomorrow we are expecting a blizzard. Both DH and I have appts in the afternoon and hoping we can make them. Not going to drive 70 miles in a blizzard though. Time for this crap to come to an end. Will be a lot of happy Minnesotans when it finally happens. Poor DH was out in the elements since 7am. Totally soaked. We had two semi-trucks today and he didn't get a break. Neither him nor DS made it in to eat the chili I left for them. DH is now snoring in the chair. Hard on an old guy. Joyce...Eva's so right. Tough to keep up with the posts when you have other things going on. It was really hard for me in Tucson cuz DH LOVES his laptop and I did not get on much. Felt like a scatter brain when I finally would post. Laura....hope your folks can make it down to your place for the week. Would be nice cuz DH can be with you all also. Hugs on dad's issues. DH made me promise I would wake him to watch our movie and it's about that time. Popcorn, apple cider and a movie. Hope I can stay awake during....not much sleep the last couple of nights. Maybe tonight. Sending the love.

Eva...if that's the case you should be able to write many, many books. With all your world travels and adventures throughout your lifetime, you will be filling the Barnes and Nobles bookshelves. Hmmmmm....hope I can download you some day on my Nook.

Yep, Eva...pretty cool. You'll get there with input from your professor and some patience. Proud of you for starting out on this new venture(s) at this stage of life (notice...I did not say at your age). I smell success!

Gosh, Jessica...sounds like you have your hands full. Try not to beat yourself up for not excelling in one class. You are one smart cookie and have done so well....one class...just do what you can. As far as Jake's meds.....call his doc a.s.a.p. and let him know what is going on with his behavior since starting on them. As far as DH goes....make it clear you need him to back you up and to step in. If not...give him leftover meds. (joking) Take care of yourself. Sorry for your struggles. Hugs.

I'm back with time to spare. Quick trip. Great...we are incorporated (C corp) for the farm and tiling business. I do my share of b___ching about the extra work brought on by being incorporated but the advantages outweighs my b___ching. Hey Jodi...hope you got all rested up. Meredith...sounds like you had another fun weekend. I guess I would just have to tell that "buggy" person the partial truth (whole truth would be telling her you cannot stand her DH....I've actually had to reveal that one to a friend of mine cuz it got to the point where DH and I could not stand to be around him SO...absolutely could not tolerate him..love her. He was a really sickening flirt with woman, including me (yuck) and paid not attention to her. Now we just do things together without him...I told her kindly and she understood...not everyone would). I would just tell her that you save certain nights for Andrew and you don't want to sway from that. Kind of what Great said you should do. Sounds like she fairly pushy and rude. You could also go the route of not mixing business friends socially. Won't work if you do things socially with others at work. You can always take her aside and have a talk with her and let her know that one of your pet peeves is people not taking no for an answer and ask her to respectfully take your "no" answers as just that. Good luck....she sounds like a piece of work. Cheri...I keep forgetting to comment on a comment you made last week that was soooooooooooo sweet. The "We always love you" comment. Thank you....it truly made my day. Thank you.

Yea! Janet's back. Sounds like you had a fun-filled but tiring week. So nice you could spend so much time with your friends. Hope you don't go back to a desk full of work. Missed you around here. Don't leave us again for awhile. We get scared without you. (Wink) Missavery...Sandy put everything with her experience in such a nice/neat nutshell. Her decision was well thought out. LB is something that should not be an impulsive decision...it's a huge life changing experience and in order to be successful, a person needs to be educated as to what is to come. Ask yourself the question "If I can take off this excess weight, will I be able to keep it off without the help of the band or some other WLS?". Sandy has been able to maintain her loss with exercise and making healthy food choices. She has had the ability to jump right back on the wagon (re: margaritas). I believe when she says she will get back on track when she gets home from Mexico. Most of us have lost the same 50-100lbs over and over prior to LB surgery. The problem most of us had was that it came right back on. For me, I knew I could most likely get some weight off....I truly felt I could not keep it off. It's a very personal decision. Do lots of research, read as much here on LBT as you can. Go back and read some of the thread. If you start from the beginning you will be able to follow some of us through the entire journey. Good luck making your decision. Also, fire away with any questions you might have. We here believe there are no silly/stupid questions and we are all willing to help you along the way. Good morning everyone...busy day. Working on my "walk-in" closet again. Will be nice to have everything in one place. Meeting a friend at 4 at her place for coffee. She will be leaving for CO for a vacation and wanted to get together b/4 she leaves. Also working on board meeting minutes for our corp. Need to get it caught up. Have to document every $$$ decision on purchases over a certain amount. Not a bad job just one of those that is easy to put off. I am just about done with it and will have a feeling of relief when done. Laundry day also. As I was typing the above paragraph, DH stuck his head in the door asking if I would make a trip for him to get a lift station pump. Nix the plans above, he's hooking up the trailer and I am off. 2 hour drive one way so better hit the road so I am back in time for visit with my friend. You all have a good one. Talk to you later.

Great...when I filled up on Thursday, gas was $3.53/gallon. We pay a bit more here than in Mpls, for example, because of living so rural. Had a nice time with DS, GF and the kids. 6 yr old deemed cake sufficient. Whew. Little girl (8) begged her mom for a day at our place next Sunday. Good ole' farm fried chicken is on the menu. DH and I ordered pizza and kids and DS order what they wanted. GF made a very nice stir fry for herself and me. It was wonderful. DS is one lucky guy. She is the most loving and patient mother and a great person for him. I feel fortunate to have known and loved her long b/4 she became involved with DS. A friendship was formed first as it was with DS and her because they were high school friends. I also feel fortunate, as does she, that DS is sooooooooooo good with the kids. He leaves the parenting up to her and her ex and is not afraid to sit on the floor and play with the kids but also sets the boundries as what goes in the house. Sandy...hope you had a great vacation.

Loved reading your blog...please continue. Congrats on your success

Good going on the weight loss, LauraK...and also for moving along without the guy. I think just by choosing to stop talking to you would qualify him as an A$$.....no one needs to have a person in their life that is that inconsiderate. You deserve so much better than that. Have a great trip. Cheri...sorry you had the fainting spell. Try carrying some Protein bars with you.

Jessica...just wanted to tell your your photos are great. You look so good. Keep it going and if those 5lbs come off by the 29th...fine and dandy. But don't sweat it. Just keep trying and they will come off in good time. Sounds like a wonderful vacation you have planned. Have the best time ever. Leave your stress behind and just enjoy your fun times with hubby and your little guy.

Good Morning All....Dreary, windy, chilly, high humidity and dirty snow.....(what's outside the window this morning). Looking forward to a few nice days soon. A little sunshine is needed. B/4 we know it, it will all be behind us and forgotten about. Kristi....sounds like you are doing great and good going on your weight loss so far. If you keep it going like you have, by this time next year the weight loss part of this journey will be behind you. Staying focused and planning are key. Linda...poor little Merry. We go through that at our house with Tanker also. Only difference...he doesn't just wake me up when he jumps on the bed, he injures me with his load. He always tries to bury his big self under me practically pushing me off the bed. I have to go out by the door, get his bed, bring it back to the floor by the bed and give him his calming meds or he keeps up up all night with his whimpering and panting. Poor babies. Glad to hear your DH is feeling better this morning. The risk we take with eating out...you never know how that food is prepped (or not prepped). What is Hurt Locker???? Never heard of it. DS's (not DH this time) GF's little guy had his 6th bday yesterday. He had a poolside kid party yesterday and we are going into DS's house later today. Ordering pizza and chicken and bringing cake and ice cream and some special gifts. He ordered an "Iron Man" cake many, many months ago for this bday of his. I spent a few hours yesterday and sitting here hoping it is to his specifications. Anyway....made a homemade butter cake with cream cheese frosting. He wanted the cake to be red and yellow and to make sure that the trim was red, then yellow and then red again. Only wants Iron Man on the cake and no Iron Man gifts because he got enough of those last year. He is such a little character. Not bold disrespectful or bossy...just matter of fact. We enjoy every bit of time we have with him and his sister. Julie...anxious to hear your test results. Please share them with us a.s.a.p. Hope each day is getting better for you. I am also anxious to hear if the neck pain has decreased or gone once you not longer need the pain meds. Hugs. Eva...happy you got to see your bro and spend time with him. Nice. Hope the Lucky 7's had a great week together. I know a "Little Girl" that is going to shed some tears while saying goodbye to her friends. Hugs, Janet. Love you. You all have a great Sunday

Hey Sandy1...you are by far not the alone in being over 50 on this board. There are quite a few of us out there. I am 55 yrs old and am almost 3 yrs out from having LB surgery. One of the best decisions of my life. I feel a good 30 yrs younger. Good luck with your pre-op tests.

Have been a bit timid about posting on the "old timers" thread. Guess I am in the same boat as Kartman....maybe could be considered a mid-timer. Let me clarify...In human years, I would be considered an "old timer"...agewise...55 yrs old. (In dog years, I'd be in an urn on the mantel). But, with the help of the Lapband, I can honestly say that I could run circles around any 19 year old. I have had the ideal Lapband experience. I was banded on June 17, 2008. I worked REALLY hard to prepare myself for this life change. I researched three years prior to actually going to the initial Lapband seminar. My biggest fear was waking up from surgery and feeling as if the rug had been yanked out from under me. I decided that in order for this to work for me that 8 months prior to surgery I would religiously stick to eating like a lapband person. It truly prepared me for what was to come. I was able to lose 52lbs prior to going under the knife and felt so prepared for the challenges ahead of me. My highest weight was 249lbs. I had a "moom shaped" face and my body was a true apple shape. (Take a look at my gallery photos...OMG....I still have a tough time looking at them). My mid-section was blown up like a nickel balloon. Skinny arms and legs but the fat around my middle was killing me. I was able to reach my personal goal of 136lbs on Oct. 15, 2008....without starving. I never missed a meal. Not very big meals but ate every couple of hours. Without trying, I dropped another 20lbs or so and have stayed at the same weight for over 2 yrs. My daily caloric intake averages 2500 calories. Lucky girl. My LP doc and his staff were such a huge support system as was my DH. I can count on one and a half hands how many times I have PB'd throughout this journey....and usually those incidents were self-induced by not chewing. No acid reflux after living with extreme acid for 15 yrs prior to LB surgery (one huge hiatal hernia (sp?). I guess I can say I am one of the lucky ones and I thank some higher power for being gifted with this second chance at life. I cannot say for sure but I wonder if I would have stayed on that self-destructive path, that I would be here today to share. I am now starting a new journey. Just submitted photos, etc. to my LB doc's office to start the process to get rid of my panni. Waited a little more than 2 yrs to see how "things" were hangin' and decided that I need to complete this journey. Wish me luck. Sooooo very nice to see all of you come back on and post on how you are doing. I recognize most of the "names" and have to tell you that most of you were very influential and I looked up to you.

My little girl that is spending time at our house is an absolute ANGEL. She's 2 and talks a blue streak and when I am not sitting with her, she entertains herself. It's been a great day with her. She met my DS when he and DH came in for lunch. She told me "I no like your boy". Funny. And he's sooooooooo good with little ones. I think he might have teased a bit too much. She's pretty serious. I haven't accomplished much besides a bit of bookwork and a load of laundry. I sometimes forget children are time consuming. Not sure yet if she is staying the night. Their BB team lost their game down at state in a double overtime. I had to walk away from the TV a few times....got the stress levels up there. It seems that all I can think about today is the panni procedure I want to have done. I am not sure when the recommendation letter and history will go to my ins company but going to be patiently waiting with my fingers crossed to see if it's accepted. I went to Makemeheal.com Tuckthattummy.com and was paging through photos and stories. It actually helps me to know what I am in for. As I stated b/4, I never think about what pain will come with surgeries..just don't like looking at incisions and drains. Going to that site really helped because I forced myself to even look at the actual surgery photos. Soooooooooo hoping to get some answers within the next 2 weeks and want to push for a surgery date prior to planting season. If not, it will have to wait until mid-June, which would work for me also. Sorry...did not address anyone but Linda....little one wants "dinno". Guess that means dinner. Later

Linda...what a slip I made. Hmmmmm....maybe I had better go check DH's underwear drawer. "They" say that if he buys himself silk underwear, he has a GF on the side. Yes, that would be very generous of me to have lunch with one of his GFs. The only way I would meet up with her for lunch would be if she had a check for me that represented 70% of DH's assets!

Good Morning All...hope every one had a happy St. Pat's day. Mine was full. Didn't babysit yesterday but got the little girl this morning. Her bro went with the parents. They are down in MPLS for the state girl's BB playoffs. If the team wins, I will have the little one till at least tomorrow night. She's 2 yrs old and calls me "Tanker's Mommy" and DH is "Tanker's Papa". Cute. Her parents are neighbors of our at the lake and the kids spend a lot of time at my place up there so she had no problem jumping out of Grandpas arms into mine this morning. Her and Tanker are hanging and watching Garfield for a bit. Yesterday DH's GF and I went shopping. Of course, had to travel 70 miles for mediocre type shopping but we had fun. Had lunch in between and then back to town by 3pm so she could pick up her children from school. I piddled around town doing some errands and had a 5:30 LB group support meeting. Good meeting but numbers are so low. There's so many pple banded by this doc that you would think we would have more that would attend. I would like to do something to help get the numbers up on attendance. The coordinator is so patient and I know it is not worth her time to stick around a couple of hours after working in the hospital/clinic all day but she is so patient and kind. She has such a way of making everyone feel special and getting them to talk. Found a couple of good deals yesterday. Nothing I really NEEDED but could not pass up. I found a red St. John's Bay wool peacoat for $19.99. Had been $200.00. A pair of Vigoss jeans (studded flap pockets.....makes me look like I have butt cheecks) for $11.90 that had been $55 and a North Face hoodie in blue and white for $19.99 that had been $89.00. Fun stuff and fits perfectly. I have plenty of clothes and not a lot of closet space left. I do go through the closets at the beginning of each season and either take it to Good Will or one of my consignment shops. I am making a walk-in closet out of one of the smaller spare bedrooms. Cannot wait to start. Maybe this afternoon little muffin and me will put some of the racks together and start in on the project. Julie...you know better than to think we would just let you slip away from the thread. I don't think there are rules that state you need to have a band installed in order to be here to share and get support. Hugs. Well, think I will get little pumpkin dressed and take her outside for a muddy walk. She has knee high rubber boots so she's good to go. Now just have to go find mine. You all have a great day. Will check in later. Sending the love.

Happy Birthday, Joyce. Hope it's the best ever!

And...I have never had a surgery where I didn't wake up to see my sweet Lucille's face at the end of the bed and so happy to sit with me for hours. Gosh...I really miss her. So sweet. I just know she will be there and rubbing my feet from heaven

Cheri...good thoughts and prayers for your daughter. I am like you in a way. Kids lighten the load in life. I have a couple of little ones I am to take care of all day Thursday and Friday. Have activities planned and could give a darn if they mess up the house. They are 18 months and 4 yrs old and neighbors at the lake. Momma was in a panic cuz she has a conference and full-time babysitter needed those days off. It's going to get me through the week. Love the little ones. Teenagers and 27 yrs olds can put it to ya sometimes but those little ones are so honest and fun. Tomorrow is a doc appt. (routine) and a trip to Walmart. Of course, (you all know what is coming) I need to drive 70 miles. Going to take off early (2pm appt) and do a little shopping for DH's bday which is about a month away. And, want to find something special for another friend that has a bday coming up. (No Walmart gifts for my friends). Going to find what I need to make the gift. Sooooo....kind of have been in a bit of panic mode this evening. I have had many, many surgeries and just flew through them without taking pain meds home and managing just fine. I guess I should just keep my nose out of the plastic surgery threads. LOL. It will all be worth it. Heck, any kidney stone has probably caused me more pain than this surgery will. I don't have a problem with pain....I'm Super Woman when it comes to that. I just have a hell of a time looking at the incision. What's bugging me is that I know I will have bags again. I don't like looking at the drainage. It makes me gag. Silly, hug? I will just get used to them like I did with my GB surgery. Had to carry those suckers for a couple of months until I healed. I am sure you nurses that love gore are thinking "WTH"? I can't watch CSI, Bones or any of those shows because they might show a little blood. Whimp. I confessed...I'm a whimp. Still love me now?

Meredith...great way to celebrate over the weekend. The town I grew up in has a big hoohaw for St. Pat's day. Haven't been back for it in years. Not much around here celebrating the day. About as far as they go is to have green beer specials. Jodi...sounds like a wonderful celebration for Dassi. Now you can just look back on the memories and enjoy some down time after all the work it entailed. Eva...you are such a gardener/landscaper. I am looking forward to getting after my flower beds but it will be Memorial Day week at the very earliest. I usually start my plants in a little greenhouse I have but I think I am going to skip it this year. If I have my surgery this spring, I will want to not be bending a reaching. DH will need to get them in for me this year maybe. We are in the 40's today and have sunshine. It's a treat. I had not left the house since soon on Friday when I left for my appt at 11:30 today. The "Caged Animal" syndrome was starting to set in. Hope the Lucky 7's are having a great time. Got a peek at the photos on Facebook. Julie...hope you are healing and settling into being home and having your surgery behind you. HUgs. Joyce.....how's it going with the splint off? Well, cooking up some hard boiled eggs for egg salad and for just a quick grab of protein. I just throw peeled eggs in a baggy. Love my eggs.

Hey all...I'm so excited. Just got back from my six month LB check and visiting with my doc about getting my panni done. I have all of my photos ready to submit to his office, he will write a letter of recommendation and I will sit with fingers crossed that this flys. If not, on to plan #2. It would be wonderful if I could get this done b/4 the end of April so that I can recover while DH is still around. I have had too many surgeries where I thought it would be OK to just do it on my own. (DH in the field and couldn't be around) I think this one will be a bit different and will need assistance for a few days. Can I say it again? I'm soooooooooooooooo excited.

Hey all...I'm so excited. Just got back from my six month LB check and visiting with my doc about getting my panni done. I have all of my photos ready to submit to his office, he will write a letter of recommendation and I will sit with fingers crossed that this flys. If not, on to plan #2. It would be wonderful if I could get this done b/4 the end of April so that I can recover while DH is still around. I have had too many surgeries where I thought it would be OK to just do it on my own. (DH in the field and couldn't be around) I think this one will be a bit different and will need assistance for a few days. Can I say it again? I'm soooooooooooooooo excited.

I have been banded almost 3 yrs and you are welcome to email me anytime for support. I might not be exactly the age/stage you are looking for but would be more than willing to lend some experience. Sounds like you are struggling just a bit. Could help you over the hump.