Hi Pati,
I am happy to hear that you have been to Ireland - didn't you just love it? I moved to Europe in 2000 and went to Ireland four or five times the first year I was there. My name Kerry - is after the county that my Mother's family came from in Ireland - so, of course, I had to go there to see the county. It was fantastic. My daughter was going to be Erin but..... we ended up with Katie instead - still Irish.
About the lapband - well, it was too tight last year after a fill here in the US - but I ended up having it loosened and it was fine after that. I can eat solid foods, but no breads or raw vegetables - they get stuck every time. I have learned to s-l-o-w down when I eat and chew, chew, chew. I can eat steak if it is cut up very small and ice cream is easy to eat - of course! Greasy foods give me heartburn and spicey foods are off limits. I recently moved back to the US after living overseas for 32 years, so I need to get a routine started. I am looking for work, but am actually off to Europe in a month for two weeks to go with two of my sisters on a vacation. My husband is a school principal here in Colorado. Take good care and my one word of advice is exercise!!!!!
Kerry