Denika

Hello everybody, I just wanted to apologize for not showing up for the get-together. I fully intended to be there. First of all, Jamie had a tee-ball game scheduled for that morning. Then, I was told at school that I had to go to a teaching workshop on that Saturday just a few days before. Teachers don't do Saturdays, but for some reason the powers that be thought that this was a good idea. Needless to say, it ended up getting cancelled at the last minute due to "lack of participation." So, once again, I missed you all!! I am bound and determined that I am going to meet you!!! I promise!!! I could've maybe met some of you this past weekend, but I didn't really know about it in time. Saturday was our anniversary, and Jimmy had a client in Charlotte that just had to see him on that day. So, Jamie and I went with him with the ulterior motive of going to eat at Maggiano's. (at South Park) He was finished with his client early, so we spent a couple of hours just walking around the mall. I finally went in Torrid! Wow! Pretty cool stuff, but I'm not sure that all of it is "me." I did get some undies in there! If I had more money I would have tried on a dress that I saw, but I'm coming up on those two months out of the year when I don't get paid, so that was out. I just wanted to apologize for being such a dork and missing out on all the fun again.:think:embarassed:

Goodness, as a mother and a preschool teacher, I can definitely say that your story is terrifying! I hate that your little girl is going to have to have the shots, but you are definitely doing the right thing! I just admire you for keeping your cool! I would've probably freaked out and made things a lot worse for everybody. Please let us know how your daughter is doing, and what your husband finds at the daycare.

YES! I can definitely, most likely, probably make it to the Hickory meet-up with Leatha. If I can't make it to that one, I should give up because that's as close to my backyard as we can get. Biltmore is beautiful! If ya'll go, let me know!

Hello Diane! I live in Hiddenite, which probably makes me closer to you than most anyone else here that I know of! I was also going to have my surgery done in Hickory, and way back over a year ago they told me that they were going to start doing the band. I was going to be Dr. Cook's first or second patient, and I just said "NO WAY!":omg: I know he would have had an experienced surgeon with him while he did it, (I think INAMED requires that) and I know that it's technically a much simpler surgery to perform than the RNY, but I still don't want to be the first or second one that someone does. So, I went to Dr. Bauman in Concord. I was self-pay, so I figured with all that money I was spending anyway, what was a little drive going to hurt? I love him, and he's been wonderful for me, but I know there are other wonderful doctors too. A lot of them just happen to be in the Charlotte area, not closer to you or me.:phanvan We go to Boone and Blowing Rock pretty often for different things like Makato's, Shops On the Parkway, Makato's, the Greene's Homecoming, Makato's, to see our friends in Blowing Rock, Makato's, and other stuff! (Can you tell that I like Makato's?:hungry:) It's beautiful up there, I love it! My parents also used to live in Boone when my mother was going to ASU, and they were living there when the found out she was expecting. Now the place where they lived is a parking lot, so I love to tease her when we go by there by pointing to it and saying, "look Mama, that's where you and Daddy made me!" O.K., that was way too much information, wasn't it? :nervous I'm sorry! Sometimes I just get carried away. :speechles

Photonut, I just don't see why in the world you couldn't make it!:biggrin1: What in the world would be stopping you??

Kathy and Kim, I know, I know, I'm a big dork that says she's coming to meet you and never does! :guess No, you don't scare me, honest! I'm not easily scared. (If you knew my family, you'd know why.) You all look like perfectly normal and beautiful people in your pic. Now, if you really were talking to my chair, I may have to change my opinion! You probably did talk about that crazy girl that says she'll be there and never is, and if you did, I wouldn't blame you! Unfortunately, I really for sure won't be able to make it on the 17th. Jamie has his yearly check-up in New York that week, and we'll be there from the 14th-17th. Now, as for my ever lovin' shrinkin' fanny, well, let's just say it's not shrinking much lately. I've just GOT to do better. You'd think being self-pay would make me wanna make this thing work for me, wouldn't you?! Ugh!:faint:

Do you know the name of your hotel? It does sound like it's right off of I-40. There are lots of places to eat around there too. I can help with directions or anything too. (I'm originally from Hickory.) I am totally in if you all are going to meet up. I'll be out of school by then (I teach) so I'll be just as free as can be! I'll even meet you guys if you decide to meet in between Hickory and Charlotte somewhere. I'll do whatever is best for everyone!

Hickory is only a little over an hour from Charlotte. Not far at all!

Tonya, I just replied to your other post, but I just saw this one. I just wanted to say that my husband and I tried to have a baby for five years or so before I went to a specialist. I didn't have to have in vitro, but we did have lots of help, and to make a long story a little shorter, we now have a wild four year old boy. So, don't give up! God has truly blessed us. There are actually a couple of websites that tell about our little boy. There's a lot more to the story that I won't go into here, but if you want to read about it, please feel free to! http://www.cleftadvocate.org/ff0404Jamie.html and www.angelfire.com/hero/menis Neither one of these have been updated in awhile, but the general story is there!

Hey Tonya! I'm a WNC banded person! I live in Hiddenite, which is about 30 minutes from Hickory.:welcome2: I've heard about some surgeons having a maximum weight restriction, and I think that's a bunch of you-know-what! Dr. Bauman in Concord is my doctor, and he's wonderful. There are several doctors around Concord and Charlotte that are great, and to me the drive is worth it. I just look at it as, what's a couple hours drive worth versus my health and life? Plus, I don't have to go to the doctor every week or anything anyway, so it's not really bad at all. I am a teacher, so I have the teachers' and state employees coverage. It's contracted through BCBS I think, and it doesn't pay for lap-band. My husband and I (and my parents) did everything possible to get us the money for me to self-pay. I have never regretted it for a second, and would do it again in a heartbeat. I love Asheville! I've been there lots of times, and it's beautiful there! I don't get to post on here as much as I would LOVE to, but I did want to say "hello" and welcome you!

Happy Birthday!! I hope you have a fantastic day!

I have to agree on this bald stuff. My husband is bald, but even if he wasn't, I think there's just something about a bald guy! I don't know what it is. By the way, it is definitely O.K. to be married and still appreciate the attractiveness of others. Besides, we should know better than anyone that just because you're on a diet, it doesn't mean you can't look at the menu!!:biggrin1:

Happy Birthday!! Enjoy your special day!! :happybday2: :happybday: :whoo: :) :cake:

Holy Cow! CONGRATULATIONS!!:high5: ISN'T GOD WONDERFUL??!! I am so happy for you, and I know you are just thrilled! God has truly answered your (and our) prayer, and he is so good! You stuck in there and didn't give up! WAY TO GO!

I was told the 100 lbs. in 6 months thing too at my first meeting with Diane. I knew it wasn't likely when I heard it, and I KNOW FOR SURE it's not true now. I guess if you ate exactly like a RNY patient it would happen, but that's not gonna happen with me. That's part of the reason I chose the band in the first place. I don't want to lose it that fast, and I can't eat like that even with good restriction, like I think I have now. I would be majorly hungry all the time. I feel very blessed to have lost the measly 65 lbs. that I have lost so far. With that being said, I have not lost any since the first of MARCH!!! I cannot believe that, and I am totally upset about it. I know I haven't made the best food choices, but it seems like there is no way I would be eating enough calories to NOT lose weight. I mean, you have a certain amount of calories you would have to have to maintain your body weight, right? It just doesn't seem possible that I am eating more than that. But, what do I know? I just want you to know Melissa that I know what you are feeling. While I know the way I'm feeling is only temporary, it's still no fun and a little scary. I have a long way to go, and it's too soon to start slowing down now.:phanvan

I just wanted to quietly :kiss mention that with my first fill, I didn't go through the nutritionist. I just called the main number and said that I wanted to get an appointment for a fill, and they set it up. It wasn't a problem at all.:nervous

Yes, the 20th should be fine for me. Any Saturday except for the 6th (my Mama's birthday) or the 27th (my anniversary) would be great. I can't wait to meet all of you!:biggrin1:

OH, that's so nice! I cannot wait to see and hug each of you too! I hope it really does work out this time!

I don't know if I can respond to a poll, but I just wanted to say that I did vote for May 13th. But, the 20th will probably be fine too. May 6th is my Mama's birthday, so I can't go that day for sure. If that date wins the poll though, I'll just try to make it to the next one. I know I've never made it to one of your get togethers, but I want to!! I can't wait to meet all of you!

Angie, Bless your heart! I am so sorry to hear that this has happened with your husband, but maybe the time away will make him realize how much he loves, needs, and misses you. I can't imagine how you are feeling with that situation, but I can relate with losing your grandmother. I lost my grandmother in November too, and that was after losing my other grandmother (my Nanny) the February before. So, I started out 2005 with all four of my grandparents, and ended it with only 2. It's very tough, and I know that if were not for God and all of my friends, family, and people that I don't even know praying for me, I would have never made it through those times and this most recent time with my Mama's stuff. Please try your best to put the whole situation is God's hands. I know how hard that is, believe me, but he will help you through it and work it out for your good. It's just hard for us sometimes to remember that he doesn't need our help working out our problems. Gosh, that sounded a little preachy didn't it?:nervous

That's exactly right! I'm self-pay, and the fee that I paid my surgeon was just over $5,000. The rest of the almost $20,000 went to the hospital! It's crazy! :think

Karen, That just really stinks! But, please don't give up, and APPEAL as many times as it takes. We are all here for you through this, and this WILL work out. I'll be praying for you too! Denika

O.K. Let's see, my name is Denika Menis, and I live in Hiddenite with my husband Jimmy and my 4 year old son Jamie. Hiddenite is about 30 minutes from Hickory. I was banded on July 26th, 2005. So far I have lost around 65 lbs, but NONE in the last month. My weight has always been a major issue in my life. Up until college, I fought with it and it somewhat under control. But after that, I started gaining fast and never stopped! I developed PCOS and started having all the problems that go along with that, including infertility. After 6 years, infertility treatments, and two miscarraiges, God blessed us with our son. But, that was just the start of another wild ride! If you want to, you can read all about it here:http://www.cleftadvocate.org/ff0404Jamie.html Getting my band was the BEST decision I have ever made, even though it was not easy! I am self-pay, so the only time I ever have negative feelings about my band is when I make out that monthly payment to the bank! I love my band, and even though I have LOTS more to lose, I know I could have never lost 65 lbs and kept it off before.

I've already forwarded this to my Mama. She'll love it! Thank you for sharing it, even though our husbands will not be happy!

O.K. I really, really, REALLY want to make it to one of these get-togethers and meet you all! I feel like with everything that's gone on around here lately that even though I've been here forever I still haven't gotten to know everyone here much or share in all of your "shananigans!" (Woo, that was a big word for me) I MAY be able to make the 22nd thing. I hope! Jamie is playing tee-ball, but I don't think he has a game that day. I may be able to do a weeknight if it's not too late. When school's out though, I can go any night! (I'm a teacher) But when school's still in, with my at least an hour's drive, it would have to be kinda early on a weeknight. I don't know why, but for some reason, I seem to need my sleep a lot more than I used to you. You don't think it has anything to do with my AGE do you?? Nah, couldn't be that! I'm really going to try to make one of these things, I promise!:biggrin1: