guysis

Thinking of you tonight Julie - and will be with you tomorrow ("in my heart" - to quote my grandaughter Skylar)! Now on to a speedy, pain free recovery, a hard tummy and perky boobies!

Alan continues to do great. He's taken himself off all pain meds because he gets itchy from them all.............he'd rather hurt than itch. He's weak, but we're starting to walk a little more each day. OK - I'm back - been to the gym the last 4 days! (Don't think I'll make the challenge this month, but not bad for what's been going on). With the happenings of this past month I've sort of forgotten about myself - got on the scale and was up 3 lbs.................not bad - just think what it would have been last year.....................a month of stress, stress, stress...............thank you band - I learned in the hospital how to eat around my band (not going to do that any more).............so back to basics for me.........for me at least - I have to keep focused - it's not automatic I'm afraid! Julie - when do you leave for home? I could not find Blue's phone #............I wrote her a PM, but have not heard from her. Blue - check in - we're worried about you. Boo - when are you going for another fill? I need to get up to my doctor in Olympia, WA (a 2 hour drive) as soon as Alan is up to driving up with me..........I haven't had a fill in a long time and feel I need one (although I still sometimes get stuck - still eat too fast at times!).

Way to go Dawn! You continue to amaze and inspire!

Alan continues to do great! He's out of intensive care and today is suppposed to get all the hanging stuff out of his arms and the pee-pee line out of his you know what! He walked pushing the wheel chair from the intensive care unit to the elevator - up the elevator and into his new room............smiling all the way - he truely is amazing and our son is flabergasted at how fast he is healing (Craig at this point was still doing lots of complaining - Craig did go thru a lot more than his daddy tho!). I bet they'll kick him out tomorrow or the next day! This month's challenge is kaput, but who cares - I've got my guy back! If Alan does as well today - I'll hit the gym tomorrow morning before I head to the hospital. Julie - are you on your way? I'm with you there in the hospital and when you get home - speedy, painfree (as much as possible) recovery! Love you baby girl! Kat - is Rick ok? Worried. I'm going to call Bluehill - think I still have her number - worried that she hasn't checked in. Boo - saw your other post - will join in when I get time - I'm off to the hospital.

Alan is a wonder-Poppops (Grandpa in our family "talk")..........he's doing great! In and out of surgery - no problems, off the ventilator in 4 hours, up in a chair this eve............hurting but............happy to be alive! Kat - hug that guy for me - tell him enough already - I hope they'll be able to do that fix soon! Our guys have to settle down and let us have all the attention again - that's how it's supposed to be! I've been up for a couple of days - gonna get into the shower and crash......almost fell asleep at the wheel coming home.

Julie.........................:clap2: :nervous :peace: :usa2: :dance: :amen: :jaw: :hail: :rockon: :wow2: :rose: :hug: :cheer2: :tea: :waytogo: :huggie: :) :Banane52: :Banane41: :Banane30: Love, Mom

Dawn - Loved your poem - I've added myself! I am nominating you for Bandster of the year! You are working so hard and your accomplishments this year are beyond words.............go Dawn. Have fun in Montreal. Thanks to you all for all your prayers and good wishes - keep them coming. Alan and I did a lot of "hugging" during the night. We're frightened, but wanting this over with so that we can get on with "this wonderful life".

Amourette - you are very young to have gone thru such a scare! As we grow older we seem to face that image that we are not possibly "here" forever - as do younger people! The past few weeks it's hit me like a ton of bricks...............Alan and I HAVE BEEN FOREVER - the fact that it might be over for us sooner than later has hit with a bang - I think it's your first experience and it certainly is frightening! But..........perk up, enjoy and like Julie said - hit life again and go on.............it's so worth the effort..............sometimes it's good to experience a scare - it does so make you appreciate what we have. Alan and I are going to spend a quiet eve together - I bought him some chocolate covered orange slices, an artichoke and some berry pie..............some of his favorite munchies - I'll join him with the artichoke ):...................tomorrow morning we're going to breakfast with our 2 best couple friends before he checks into the hospital............he'll have the surgery Monday morning. I removed 2 of my exercises in advance postings - did Thurs and today........(not the 4 I was planning).............oh, well - I'll plan to walk a lot next week at the hospital inbetween visits to Alan. I'm up a couple of pounds this week - didn't post it - think I need a fill................after Alan gets home in a few weeks we'll travel up to Olympia to my dr's - I didn't want to risk having the fill now - didn't want to go thru what Boo did - while we're going thru the next few weeks!

Julie - you sound like me - we have season tickets to the Sunday afternoon series of our symphony here in Portland, OR - they do the same type of thing - about 1 1/2 hours - with the conductors "talking/explaining/playing parts"................I love it - just enough for me also! When do you leave for home for your surgery? Just in case I don't get a chance before you leave to wish you a safe surgery and speedy recovery I'll do it now................I'm sitting there in the waiting room with your family (in spirit) waiting to hear that all is well! Alan and I walked to Breakfast this morning................I'm planning on going to NIA Fri, Sat and Sun morning.............and then on Sunday afternoon Alan has to check into the hospital in prep for his surgery on Monday morning. We're going out with some friends for brunch before we head to the hospital.............so, I'll post ahead for my exercise days - will correct if I don't make all the days! I'll keep in touch next week - all prayers and good thoughts appreciated.

We don't have long to wait - Alan's surgery is scheduled for Monday - the 19th! I'm relieved (I want him to be over with it), but I think this really hit him today when the surgeon said "How about Monday"...................he turned a bit "blue in the gills". They discovered that the aortic valve problem was at 89% (shown on the angiogram) instead of the original 68% (shown on the echo)...............so, the surgeon said it was wise for us not to wait! Kat - how long was Rick in the hospital? This surgeon said 5-9 days. Boo, hope you are fine???? Bluefield - are you home?

Boo - Thank goodness you are OK!!!! Scared us all! You were so right to head right to your doctor. Off tomorrow to the surgeon with Alan - hopefully we'll know soon when he'll be having surgery.

OH my gosh Boo - how are you? Please let us know!

Hey Guys don't beat yourselves up - since I have been there just a short year ago I know how you're feeling. No one wants to say it - but you are at the last resort stage just like we 2006'ers were at this time last year.........who but "us" knows that in order to put our bodies thru surgery and to admit that we just can't do it ourselves is anyplace other - "at the last resort stage".........................you have to be there! It's like going on a "10 steps" program.................giving it over! Very enotional time for you all - Try to keep calm - you are all doing a great job getting ready - learning the "rules", thinking about and doing some exercise..................JUST YOU WAIT - YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL YEAR and life AHEAD - the band and all these great people will help you to a thin, healthy future.

Dawn - you rock - you are something else again - wow - what an inspiration for us all! Waterlily - welcome - start slow with the exercise - we all did - give yourself your own goal for several months - definitely start with walking! You'll soon catch up to us and wonder why in the "heck" didn't I do this before - it's great - makes you feel so good, gives you a kick in the tush to healthiness! We all loose at our own pace - don't compare yourself to others! On to our second year soon and hopefully by the end of this next year we'll all be maintaining "with ease" our goal weights. This time change is no fun - it's still sort of dark outside - BUT I'M ON MY WAY TO THE GYM!

I'm so excited for you all - soon you'll be in the place I was a year ago on 4/7................I was so excited and hopefull.....................it's a year later (almost) and guess what - the excitement grows and grows and grows..........................I'm a 67 year old sexy, studly, healthy Grammy now! Down 64 pounds, in a size 12 jean, a med top..............I look pretty "cute"....................exercise 6/7 days a week (could hardly make it around the block before)......................still want to loose a bit more, BUT IF I "ONLY" stay here - I've got it made! It does get a bit harder as time goes by - but that great "old band" did and does the trick! Yes, I cannot eat much in order to loose - especially now -......................however, that is what the band does for you (IF YOU FOLLOW THE RULES!!!)...................those rules are not hard! You can do it - we the "april 2006 bandits" did it and continue today - search for us and read our threads.............we are succesfull and you will be too!

:girl_hug: Oh, Amourette - I am sorry! Your time will come ............just you wait (hopefully not too long) and when it does - wow - nothing like it - take it from this grammy who's been with a wonderful guy for 45+years - he was worth waiting for and so will yours be! Never once have I had reason to think I was not his one and only - life is such a :girl_hug: when you find the right one - it'll be yours and the rest of you sweethearts out there - just keep looking! Julie - I'm chanting with you.......................199, 199, 199!!!!! Go Julie! Look at that body on that girl! Just wait a couple of weeks when she's a hard boobied/tummy studley!

Just got back from NIA - "it" felt good! OK - got an idea for next month (or when Alan is recovered from surgery!!!).................we'll incorporate "it" into our routine - how many times and duration - not for the ears of those unmarrieds (yeah right - those unmarrieds know a lot more than I did in those "good old days" - wish I would have known then what I know now!!!!! - as my father-in-law used to say to my mother-in-law - "It's a new world Hannah"!).

Boo - Going to call my lawyer Julie and see if I can get you into court for defamation of character - wish "it" were "it"! So mean to bring up "it" to a couple of "old poops" who can hardly remember what "it" is! Now that you did bring "it" up - hmmmmmm! On my way to NIA - no sliding back into bed today (hmmmmmmmm!).

Kat - hope all is still well with Rick...............these guys are getting to us! Yes, I did remember that you had told me Rick had a problem with the angio................so glad that part is over for Alan. Now wating to talk to the surgeon on Tues! I removed my in advance addition for today to this challenge............I'll make up for it this week-end!

Julie - I see that scale inching down - have a great run on Sunday! Dawn - I got up this morning (it's Friday - scale day), scared and a bit confused and definitely thinking I'm not going into the gym (I'm tired and stressed) - weighed myself (not good - just like I knew it would be because last week was a cookie snitching/other stuff not in my usual day) - up 3 lbs..................and then read your post..................I'm out of here on my way to NIA...- already counted it -..................for me this was the week you talked about - waiting for the other shoe to drop...............the old head "crazy talk"................brought on by stress of what's going on with Alan, anxiety about this last plateau - whatever - I just now sat myself back and said - hey, you..................good thoughts.............good deeds...............back to the basics......................I think we've all had so much stress in our lives just with dealing with this huge difference in our bodies this past year..........throw in everyday life................and we're expecting ourselves to be superwomen! I'm going to try to calm down this week................go slow, Betty, go slow! Well, I just came back in here to edit this! I lied! I did not go to NIA today! I went in to say bye to Alan - he was still in bed - and gave him a kiss and he said I need a hug............so, I got under the covers, it felt so good, the warm blankies and the hug - I stayed home! NOTHING EXCITING HAPPENED!!!!!, but we both needed big hugs!

Good job Julie - yeah size 16! Alan was ready to take a walk today - I didn't want him to, but he insisted - the angiogram was a snap for him and he feels great. So we went for our walk to and from Breakfast...............! Have a nice week-end all!

Blue - Welcome back to the land of "healthy"! I'm sure you're so happy to be going home. Just take it easy getting back into a normal routine. Want you to be able to come visit soon!

Boy - life is getting in our way! Doesn't it know we have bridges to run over, etc? Alan is feeling great - the angio was a snap for him - he's in his workroom - working on a gorgeous piece of stained glass for our entry way - he's a stained glass addict! and I went to NIA this morning - back to "sort of" normal! No Julie - Alan and I are still "in a sustained" tie with our weight. I have not been on the scale in a week - a bit afraid after last week with the kids........I ate a few things that have not been in my repitore (sp?) the past year........and am giving myself till Friday to make amends. I agree with the fast forward - however................am trying to "enjoy and go with the moment of each day"..............not always easy is it? Kat - you beat me out with all the "stuff" that goes on with your family.......your dynamics are even "more hectic" than mine!

Boo - I love your enthusiasm - happiness is contageous - bring it on!!!!!! NJGirl - Welcome - we'd love another April bandster to join us - you'll love this wonderful group of supportive bandsters! Alan had his angiogram today - he did well - it was uneventful/routine and he has good arteries (so no bypasses needed) and his pump is strong (good), but the valve is a little worse than they thought - no emergency still - but he definitaly needs surgery - we'll know more about the schedule when we see the surgeon next Tues. The doctor that did the test today assured us that he is a great candidate for this surgery......his proceedure will really be "routine" and he's healthy (otherwise) and "youngish"! Julie - it seems like you and Alan will be March surgery buddies - you'll get a "hard tummy" and he'll get a "soft valve"! So, now you'll have more in common with our family!!! I'm having some troubles keeping food down - stress really is a factor with my band (I'm finding out)................not all the time tho, it's sort of strange - just happens a bit more often than before - for no obvious reasons......??? I think I'm just too stressed to pay attention - gotta do that I guess!

Back in the groove - NIA this morning! I feel so much better - missing those 2 sessions last week made me feel "icky". I actually need "it" now......my new addiction (I'll take it). Dawn - what a wonderful report from the doc......and congrats on the 5K time. Eficka - lots of fish in the sea for you out there - one that will be worth the wait................that one sure doesn't seem right! I definately agree with Kat!