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And, Laura...sorry to hear our little Nels has the darned stomach bug. And, for your sake, hope he hits the bucket!

Laura...your band drama the last couple of days is a good reminder to all of us to be mindful of our bands when we catch a bug and to watch for signs b/4 the irratation causes more swelling and problems. Hope this unfill does it for you and you are eating normal soon. The unfills and refills are a huge pain in the butt but just part of us maintaining our bands. Bet you are loving the lower number on the scale though. Take care and get some rest. Make sure you get plenty of fluids to regenerate your system. Julie...good to hear you finally got rid of that pain for now and were able to get out and go to church. I am sure you prayed for some answers to your problems. I know I am on the edge of my seat waiting to hear what your doc has for a solution. Arlene...WOOHOO on the weight loss. Doesn't seeing the numbers on the scale go down give you a new lease on sticking to the plan? Way to go and so happy for you. And, Laura, I'm missing Janet too. Quick, someone just post that they ate a peice of cake, 4 cookies, 1/2 jar of peanut butter with a spoon and 3 Snickers. Bet we would hear from her then! LOL

Wishing everyone a great Sunday. Hope it's a relaxing one for all (well, except Jodi...I know hers will be a busy one...she is stirring pots and bent of an oven). By the way, Jodi. Thanks for the explanation...I can see clear now and I recind my request to be converted. Don't have a clue why I am was up b/4 5am on a Sunday morning. Went to sleep at 10pm and was just wide awake so shut the BR door so DH would not be bothered. Guess I just didn't need the sleep. We are supposed to have highs of 65-70 this next week. Time to get the bike out and hook the dog to it. He's my pal. He doesn't pull the bike, just trots beside momma and looks up at me adoringly. Our road is wicked....lots of big grain trucks traveling 80mph. Suicide is not my thing so I ride around our gravel yard and not on the tar road. Our yard has three driveways and one trip around is 1/4 mile so I can get my bike fix without fearing for my life. Once we are at the lake again, I have a nice bike path that goes for miles. My sights are set on opening up the lake place A.S.A.P. Might even be able to spend some time up there this week. I have been doing some packing already. Well, going to hit the shower and head to church today. You all have a good one.

You can get email notices alerting you to threads that you participate in. Just go to User CP up in the left hand corner of any screen. In fact they should just pop up. When you get a email notice, just hit the link and it will take you right to the thread. Hope that helps. Hope today is better than yesterday for you. Be kind to your band today as you most likely will be swollen. Test the waters tomorrow to see how you are doing....maybe stick with the soft foods for a bit after today. I am just speaking from personal experience and how I feel after a stuck episode and how I usually feel.

Are you doing better?

Missinglink...another suggestion...do you have any papaya tablets on hand? Most stores that sell vitamins have them. Or, you can try a little pineapple juice.

Forgot to add...your hair turned out really nice.

Can you take sips of a warm drink? I would say just try to wait it out another couple of hours and if it persists, call your doctor. If things do settle down this evening, really take it easy with your food the next couple of days. You will most likely have swelling because of your episode and do not want to irritate it further. Liquids and mild mushies if you think you can tolerate them. But, as I stated, call your doc if this does not clear. Good luck!

Oh Lori...I'm so happy things went so well. You looked wonderful and your daughter is beautiful...she has your smile. Loved her dress and yours could not have looked better. Take some time to relax.

Laura...did you have a fever at all this week? If not, you are probably right...something you ate. Give your stomach a few days here and really watch what you eat. Maybe stay on liquid/very soft for a period of time. You are maybe irritated and swollen from what you have been through. Even with having the kidney stone last weekend, I was tight all week and still am. I have more or less babied my band all week. Don't like to tax it when it is already swollen.

Mornin' Chickies... Cheri...sounds like you over-did it. Hope you are feeling better this morning. Take care and rest up. Not much to add...just wanted to say Good Morning. Had a good day yesterday. Weeded through some closets and got switched over to spring clothes....now we just need spring. I'll be making trips to the basement just to get my daily clothes. Even have some to take to Salavation Army. They say if you do not wear them in a year's time...time to go. So, I parted with them. Some brand new...called trial and error. Waiting for DH to get up so we can have our breakfast together. Well, I already cheated cuz I've been up for a couple of hours. Had my oatmeal and will eat with him again. Also, was up at 3am and had a cup of greek yogurt. Next will be a protein bar. I'm off and running again today. Want to drop things off at S.A. and then a little shopping (organizing shelves) and then to the bridal shower. Little bride to be has a 2 month old that I have not seen yet so this fake grandma is all excited. Janet...good going on the contacts. I need my readers and have since 1988. Not for distance...just reading. They are a fixture on top of my head. I feel naked without them up there. Hope your eyes adjust to them and they are a breeze for you to wear. If someone asked me if I had a phobia...my answer would be putting something in my eyes. Couldn't do it. You all have a good one! Later.

Sounds like your plan is working for you, Arlene. And, I see nothing wrong with a few days of shakes/liquids to get a person back on track. Good for you! I love to see when one of us has happy news like this.:tt1:

I can see it now....15 MOB's!:tt1:

Kudos on the hard work. You look fabulous and soooooo happy! Quite the transformation.

Joyce...there are sooooooooo many ways to get your protein in. And, it doesn't always have to be at meal time. Just test the waters with them the first time you try them. Go slow and wait a good amount of time b/4 another bite. Here are some that I have always relied on and enjoy: Cottage Cheese (the LF or FF are actually really good) Greek Yogurt Beef Jerky Roasted Soy Nuts Dried Edemame Steamed Edemame Tuna or Chicken Salad made with mayo (watch your mayo cals but you can use the real mayo or FF) High Protein/High Fiber Cereal (Kashi 13 gr and Fiber One) Deviled and hard boiled, scrambled eggs and omelettes Turkey breakfast sausage Just a few things you might want to add to your grocery list

Laura....hope the unfill and soft/mild foods will take care of your problem. Continuallly irritating the area will not make it better. Flares from being stuck, etc. can last for a long time. Glad you got into your doc's office to take care of it. Hope this works for you. Sending the love

Janet...after reading all that about Jewish traditions and prep work, makes me rethink my feeling about how "tough" it was growing up and giving up meat on Fridays! Thanks for the info. Interesting.

Mornin' All, Sun is shining but still only 21 degrees and windy once again. The high yesterday was a measly 27. Just the sun shining makes a person a little more chipper though. Jodi....you make me want to convert. I sure wish I was Jewish and I could get someone to kosher up my kitchen. I would have no problem with the cooking for everyone. But, to get that kitchen totally spit shined must feel so good. And, good for you not feeling like you had to do it all yourself. Way to take care of yourself! So interesting listening to your traditions. Do you find that most kosher the kitchen the way you do? Good luck with all your preparations and enjoy your time with family. I get you on the taste of protein drinks. I can pick up that smell no matter what. Next time I am out shopping, I'm going to look for the pre-made that Janet talked about. I have never been a protein drink person, but do like smoothies in the summer. Julie...DD's being a mom. We all have our worries with our children...especially when we hear they need surgery. She's lucky she has you to calm her fears and help her out the way you do. Hope her date was fun and that this person is someone she wants to spend more time with. Sounds like they have something in common with both having little ones. Anxious to hear your results from your MRI. We've been here holding your hand along the way....because we love you....and we want answers and relief for you. Great...the big day is here. Enjoy! Joyce...I think we all go through a period of time where we mourn the loss of our favorite foods. As time goes on, you will be able to reintroduce certain foods and test the waters. I cannot tell you for sure when it happened but at a certain point I just settled in and forgot about things I could not have. It's like I lost my love for certain things and picked up a new love for healthy foods that I can tolerate. It will come. I undestand the struggle to begin with though. The unknown of what you will be able to eat...it WILL get easier. If I had to put a time line on how long it took me to no longer greive for food, I would say it was about 4 months to settle in and accepting that this was now my life and to just put certain foods out of my mind. Hi LauraK. Are you having two-faced weather too? Nice one day, crappy the next. Ours will come around. Our springs are really iffy. Janet...made your shrimp cocktail recipe last night. Loved it and so did DH and DS. Thanks for sharing it. Enjoy your day off of work. Sounds like you will be running your share of errands though. I plan on finally getting back to getting my closets done. Today is the day. Have some drawers and amoir to organize also. I enjoy doing it but other things just get in the way. Hey Eva...my DH always says that (price unseen) I walk to the most expensive item in the store when shopping for something special. Like it's calling my name. Not sure what that is cuz I'm not one that NEEDS the name brands. I guess I look for quality and that's what draws me to it. And, when you find something that you really like, the extra $$$$ are worth it. Go get that chair! And, yes, as Janet said, you got your exercise just changing around your office yesterday. I, also, have no patience when it comes to moving/hooking up computers. I was the main person in my last job to do things like that and just drove me nuts. Good going on the big shirts. I knew I needed to do something when my friends were making comments about me needing to go shopping. Well, better get my butt in gear. Want to accomplish lots today. Not much planned for the weekend. A wedding shower for my friend's future DIL. Pampered Chef book party. I am sure there will be a few things I will pick up for myself. DH asked me if I wanted to go out for dinner tonight. Turned him down. Too cold. Tired of the cold and much colder in the evening. Would rather cook than deal with it. You all have a great day!

Phyll...yep, I love the zip up jackets cuz I like to layer up. That's about all I ever wear around home with my yoga pants. You'll have to find the "perfect" hat to go with your outfit for your wedding. You look so cute in hats. Linda...nice to see your post and enjoyed catching up with you. Sure wish your DSD would see the light on her own and not cause you guys such heartache and worry. She also needs to get it that she has a little one to live for. So sad. Jessica...thinking of you and how busy your life is and will be with this move. Exciting though. Change is good. MIL asking more of you and DH at this time is not. Take time to just breath deep and relax a bit. You will be on your own soon. Poor little Jake and his situation. Hugs.

Great reminder. It's been awhile since I went searching for the unaswered posts. Will get back into the habit. Great idea!

Hey Girls! Got home a couple of hours ago. Had so much fun. Shopped till I thought my toes would fall off. Walked away with no MOB dress but my friend found one in her hometown that she likes and will go back and purchase that. She had photos along and fabric swatch. Looked for shoes and jewelry and came away empty handed on that also. We had a great time though. Took her daughter (our Goddaughter) and her two friends out for lobster dinner. Just was an all around great little trip. I did not come home empty handed. Found a navy zip up jacket at TJMAXX for $10. Didn't break the bank on this trip anyway. And, hit a Super WalMart on my way home...needed to pick up a supply of protein bars. Found 5 really cute blouses...$3/each. I mean REALLY cute. And, at WalMart. Surpise. Had a can of Pure Protein powder in my hands and put it back. Funny you talked about it, Janet. Next time I go, I am going to look for the premade that you talked about. I love making fresh fruit smoothies during the summer months. Thanks for the info. Meredith...happy to hear you got the unfill. You know, the way I look at the LB journey we are on. It's OK to have hunger and learn to manage it on our own. Not to have hunger every day all day long but a little once in awhile is OK. Too tight and no hunger is no fun. Laura...sounds like you had somewhat of an "unfill" too. Not fun and hope your tummy settles down soon. Don't push the bday dinner...there's always another day. Sending hugs. Well, better go sort through the mail. A table full waiting for me. We get soooooooooooo much every day. In just the two days alone there are 13 farm magazines and 7 farm related newspapers. No wonder our trash dumpster is full after two weeks. You all have a good evening. Great thinking of you and hope you are just enjoying time with family and NO puppy.

First off...a GREAT BIG HI to Meredith. And look at you..all grown up and only a mere 30lbs from goal. Looking forward to visiting with you again. Did you resolve your too-full problem???? Great...I agree with Eva. Put your foot down and don't let that family of yours rule you when they are around you. Do NOT let them ruin this week for you. Just say no and that you are too busy and you will see them at the wedding. Eva...Moi? MOB??????????? There would be no one more surprised than me. Just heading out today and tomorrow for a girl overnight to help a friend pick out a MOB dress. If I ever need to find one, it ain't gonna be pleasent. Your bars sound good. I make doggie oat bars...does that count? Laura...sorry about the stuck and reflux issues. My friend and I are going out for lobster this evening. Will be mindful. Janet....hope your work load eases soon. Jodi...only tip I have on the drinking fluids issue is to try doing warm or hot drinks if you can. After surgery I had such a tough time drinking anything cold. It took me months and months. I did a lot of teas and sow sodium broths. Just was so much easier for me to get all my fluids in that way. OK...I'm about ready to blow out the door. Have about a 3 hour drive. Was second guessing the clothes, jackets, etc. that I am bringing in the middle of the night. What's up with that? It's just a shopping trip. I am just so excited to get out of this house for an extended period of time and off this farm. Told DH last night that I love him but so happy I am leaving him. He truly understands my need to get out and go. Will touch base on Friday morning unless I get home earlier than I think on Thurs night. I'm outta here!

Julie...about time they approved you for that MRI. WTH? So happy that soon you might get answers to what is going on. Wishing you luck!

Thanks for the info, Arlene. Another question...could you detect that "protein" taste or do you not pick up on that usually. I drink my coffee really hot so it might not work in it. But, love smoothies when fruit is in season for breakfast for both DH and myself. Would love a protein powder that did have such a strong smell or taste. Might be worth it to order a couple of sample packs.

Hey Arlene...can you tell us a little more about the nutritional values in your Pro Joe and where you get it? Did it mix well with hot coffee? I am a great one for doctoring up coffee and making a foo-foo out of it. I am always afraid to put protein with anything hot cuz it curdles. If I can get protein in some of my coffee, that would be great.