Kat817

I do this too! Our new flatware seems huge! I will wash my fork, from our old set, with small thin tines on it, and use it all the time, everyone knows to leave my fork alone!!! And I have recently developed a new one, and need to quit now! I feel like Linus! I had a tumor growing on my Thyroid, and any weight on it at all was unpleasant. So I went to wearing all V or lower necked tops. I also could not stand the weight of the bed covers at night. I have this small blanket---just a throw size, it is super soft on one side, and satin on the other, it is very lightweight. I got to where I would only use this up high, cover my shoulders etc. with it. I had surgery...and as I recovered, I still used it, with good reason, incision stitches....I even took it to the hospital and used it! But now....while still somewhat hypersensitive in the area, I still want my blanket!!! With the satin on one side, it has a tendency to slide, and if I cannot find it, I am up and searching the sides of the bed in the dark. Wakes up DH---but I want my blankie!!! I like the soothing way it feels---but I am pushing 50---now is a helluva time to develop a need for a security blanket!! Maybe summer will help break this silliness! Kat

No snow here, but it is bitterly cold--has not broke out of the single digits yet at 10 AM. I was laying in bed, thinking of what I wanted to do today vs. what needs to be done today, and thought---I want to go riding! I love cold weather riding. I had no idea til I got up and got half dressed and happened to walk by the clock with the temperature on it----it said 6 degrees!!! Ok cold weather is one thing, this is a 'whole nother' story!!! So here I sit, while my 2nd batch of chex mix bakes in the oven....no riding! The other day it was so cold in the mountains getting the guys, this man rode up on a snow machine, and was talking, and of course it come up how cold it was, and he tells Ryan and I to check this out--he took a big gulp of air, pulled off his helmet, breathed out, held is hand down below his mouth palm up, and it froze into crystals and landed in his hand! Wicked cold! When I grew up I lived in an El Paso Natural Gas Company Plant housing edition. They are groups of 30-40 houses, miles from nowhere, they maintain the pipelines transporting natural gas. The one I lived at was 78 miles out of town, in the middle of an Indian Reservation, so none of the roads were paved, no improvements. It was nothing for it to drop to -20 to -30 and stay there day and night for days. Then when it thawed we were stuck! Only connection was helicopter, I remember them dropping food in. The bus ride to school when you hit Jr. High was almost 2 hours each way! We were long gone by then. It was a fun place for a kid, most of the people out there were the same general age, all the new hires got the yucky assignments, like in those camps, so most of them were young with young families, there were always kids to play with, there was no traffic to worry with, great playgrounds! My parents made life long friends--guess so did I!! Manda said she feels up to taking Kinsey swimming--yea!! I was not looking forward to that. I want to get things done before we do the train ride. Terry you can say what you want, I still believe the ability to bend and create such links, and to incorporate all the things you did in the necklace takes amazing talent! TracyK---good luck if you hit a mall today! Go with the attitude that you will enjoy the hustle and bustle! Kinsey now, if we tell her she has to tell Santa if she wants something is ready to go to the mall!!! I bet Macy has a long list too!!! Connor, my grandson screams a horrible high pitched terror filled scream if you even walk in front of where Santa sits! And there is a Salvation Army bell ringer at Walmart that has a big beard, and he does the same thing! We always have to use the other entrance!! So there was no getting a picture of the 2 of them this year with Santa. Suzanne, I was almost normal in my eating yesterday. I am telling you I was getting concerned! You are perfectly normal I think. Giving yourself an occasional break, is the only way I survive I think!! Thank goodness the band keeps me in check...in there squeezing so I cannot over do my over do!!! You are doing SO well, you will be fine. Wasn't it just the other day you reached half way? Now look at you--holy smokes! Judy enjoy your practice today, and then the big assembly!!! My DD says that is the only time she and her DH fight is building things! Jenn---I see you on (you too Michelle!) you feeling any better? Things falling into place at all? Big hugs, and lots of prayers still going out for you! Michelle---it was so great talking to you (and not nearly as many typos!). I look forward to talking to EVERYONE!! Gotta go dump one batch to cool, and load up the next one! Kat

I agree with that when you are as far out of surgery as we are, but the OP is a newbie with her band, and needs the nourishment to heal, and maintain her energy. As soon as she gets used to the ups and downs and the eats and can't eats, she will be able to do that, I think in our own way if we are really in tune with our bands and our bodies, we know....plus as you say, you know if what you ate leading into the not hungry or the starving meal had something to do with it. I answered the way I did simply because I know that a week or 2 into being banded, I just felt drained ALL the time. I was borderline depressed, just blah! At that time an experienced bandster suggested high Protein, steadily 3 X a day, just to feed my body, so it could heal. Within 2-3 days it was a huge difference! I was not particularly hungry so just nibbled---I needed nourishment! Now--a year and a half later, I try to eat regularly so I am not tempted to overdo the next meal, or to avoid getting really hungry and making bad choices, but that is just me, and how I choose to work with my band. Amazing we all get here, with every step being different for everyone, all our Dr.'s orders are different! Our ability to eat things is different---it just seems so wild, that we all are so varied!! Kat

A friend on here has a line in her signature that says it all---and I am paraphrasing here!! Whether you think you can or you think you can't---you're right. Set your mind to it, it is entirely possible, many have already done it, and many of us are in the process of doing it! It CAN be done!!! Good Luck to you!!! Kat

There is a sticky somewhere about what all the abreviations are----maybe introductions? I can't remember. Anyway yep DH is Dear (or Darling, or Damned depending on the mood) Husband. DW Dear Wife, DD-Dear Daughter...you get the idea!!! Never feel bad about asking, and if you don't get an answer--ask again we might have missed it! Kat

'Twas my pleasure, it really was! I had lots of fun finding things that made me think of you! After I sent it off, I wished I had sent something for the kids in it! I was so surprised to find out it was Michelle on the phone---we slid into conversation just like we do on here, I cannot wait for our trip! Looking forward to pics Haydee!!! OK---off to finish up dinner. Made me laugh to realize Michelle was doing the same thing I was---improvising, figuring dinner out as we went today. Somedays I seem to wake up with an idea, and have things well organized. But today my kitchen was a building zone! So----ended up with italian sausage & meatball sandwiches. I do the meat with sauce & cheese, and Rick has a sandwich. Works easy for me to send leftovers to work with him too!!! Meals always help here, if they can do double duty! Michelle, glad it got to you quickly---I loved being your SS---Laura thanks again for organizing this, it has been fun! TTYL~~ Kat

paid???? that should be the pain will lessen each day!!! I need typing lessons! Kat

Everyone has given you good advice, on adding in protein---it helps with the healing, as well as easing the hunger some. Mostly it is just something you have to get through. Think of it as the last diet you will be on! Then when you can eat again, you can begin to eat healthier! As for the loose stools---there is a saying around here----Liquid In==Liquid Out. There is nothing for your body to digest. broth was the worst for me, it caused horrible diarrhea. The Protein powders will help with that some, not a lot. That is going to be helped when you begin putting something besides liquid into your system. It is VERY important to follow your Dr.s post op eating plan though. Right now you are healing, and all your stitches inside are setting the band into proper place for the scar tissue to begin forming to hold it in place. When you eat prematurely it causes your stomach to churn and move in an effort to digest the food, and does not allow things to heal properly. I know it is not easy--we all went through it. The point it---it IS worth it!!! The paid should lessen some each day, and soon it will all be behind you----and there will be less You behind you!!! Welcome to LBT, and welcome to bandland!!! Kat

Well now the old lady of the bunch is going to chime in!! Laura, no laughin' on the other thread girl! Now as for your swing. Do not plan on hanging it over the bed. When you think about it--DH wants to be able to plant his feet on the ground--works much better. With that in mind, you can usually hide the hook with a plant or a light cord. You could even put it in one of your extra rooms, where there would not be a question if anyone saw it. Now to be 100% honest, we likely spent as much time preparing to hang ours, hanging it, and worrying about it....than we have really using it! Keep in mind ours is more than a few years old!!! And as suggested the hook is actually in the extra bedroom---there was nowhere in our room it did not look obvious. In our house we have a attic on one end, and full access crawl space throughout the rest. We DID re-enforce the ceiling. We double the ceiling joist, and then added cross beams. I believe he fitted 4X4's between the existing beams, and mounted the screw all the way through one of them. My DH did his own thing with it, I cannot tell you exactly how he did it, but it managed. I always felt the bulges of where the swing ended and I began bulging around it---and hated it, felt like it was deforming me!!! It also made me kinda roll up (for lack of a better description) ----I mean it holds your legs in a raised position, and your shoulders as well, so the natural hang, of it draws you together. Well I already had (still have way too much of it) a huge belly, and it just felt like it was squishing me all up in it, my boobs, belly ---all of it, felt right there in your face, obvious! Now I do realize that was likely NOT what he was focusing on....the problem was I was focusing on it, and not enjoying the experience, which lessened his as well. With over 100 pounds gone, and my confidence returning, it is still not a good position for me. But had I had it at y'alls age, and when I was thin, I probably would have loved it! Losing weight has definitely made a difference. I have never had any complaints about the quality or the frequency---but my own body image, set some limitations. Years ago, we did a lot of traveling, and we were always looking for an old road to pull off on--well then came all the weight, and we had many years we would have needed a van! I know he likes the change, he is always commenting on how he used to only be able to link his fingers around me when he hugged me tight, and now he can grab his own elbows, and have room. He joins me more in the shower---we fit better!!! He joins me in the tub-----for years, standing up in a slippery tub to get out, with all the weight, kept me taking showers and missing the bubbles. With all of this though, I will have to say, I never really lost my flexibility--even fat I was not easy to wind, and I could always get my legs up over his shoulders kind of thing. I think a lot of that depends on how you carry your weight. But I totally relate to the thinking that your arms are going to collapse, before he does kind of thing! Weight loss has helped a lot, mentally as well as physically. Y'all got a long time to be happy and healthy in your sex lives, get it figured out now!!! Now Laura.....grab a Santa hat (and nothing else), a big ol' candy cane, and the cam corder, and make your honey happy!!!! Kat

Judy--I have to tell you--talking about reading books, Kinsey has a book that at one time was Lindzies, it is a Barbie book, called "Who's the Boss". A story where they all learn to share responsibility. Well we read it often---and have also used the line on her when she gets bossy, that she is Not the boss! So she tells me "You aren't my boss" I raised my eyebrows at her, and she says "Mommy is". I tell her yes her Mommy is her boss, but at my house, when I am taking care of her she has to listen to me, then. She thinks for awhile, and tells me "I no know who is my boss, but Daddy is NOT Mommy's boss--hers says so!" Could not help but laugh at the tone, and content of that statement!!! We have had to suspend building right now, our roof is wanting to slide off our house. So we are watching cartoons while hopefully it sets a bit. Her barely 3 year old touch is not as light as a Ginger bread house requires, but she is oh so proud of it so far!!! Hope it stays together to get home. We are going to finish our turtle/bear candy--but will wait and do fudge tomorrow without her help!!! Manda thinks she will be able to take her to the party--hope so! They need Mama and Me time. Laura the only time I have been seriously nauseated was with that virus that hospitalized Kinsey. I have times where a PB is working that it takes everything in my power not to throw up---but if I am very still---and avoid it for a few minutes it passes. Sounds like the same thing, but yours is not passing. Sorry! I do know what you are saying, about seeing others in the position I was myself once. I try to be what I would have considered normal. I do not want to go overboard being overtly attentive----I would not have liked that. But I make eye contact, and try to make conversation---about something nuetral---the line we are in, or something like that. It is a hard thing to not just tell them! That was one of my big reasons for being so open about my surgery. I used to hear someone say they had lost a large amount of weight, and I would feel so inferior, that they could do that and I could not! I do not want to make anyone feel that way--it hurt! I am very up front about it, hoping if the person is asking how I did it, then they are interested in the truth for themselves or someone they know. Now if they just want to use that info to make fun of me behind my back, or trash talk me, then I figure they darn sure were doing it when I was a lot heavier too!!! I have noticed not so much flirting---although some! But just courtesy. Where before they would not hold doors, or would, but would avoid eye contact, now they meet my eye and acknowledge my thank you. We had the guys in last night, and one of them is from Grand Junction, and is new here, has only been here for a few weeks. He looks just like a young Michael Jordan, though not so tall, just his features, and that amazing smile!!! I had been sitting on the couch near where he was, and we had plates of food. Well I ate a couple of hot wings, and that was it. I got up to put my plate away, and he tells me "Girl you never gonna get no junk in that trunk if you don't eat!" Everyone laughed--I finally told him my trunk is history and I am trying to eliminate what is under the hood up front! Then told him I had had WLS---he acted surprised, wanted to see pictures of me! Now he wants his sister to call me. Hope she does! Well better go see if our house is salvagable....need to make some more icing, it might look as though it has been seriously snowed on!!! TTYL~~ Kat

Hugs Anne--- will definitely add your Dad and your family to my prayer chain. I know it isn't a lot of help right now, but if a man has to have cancer, it is one that is operable, and he can beat it! Mandy, DH said if you don't want that bike it will fit right in his collection!!! Lucky girl, Dave knows you well it seems! I think our snow has stopped for now, we of course are not getting it here like you guys are, or like they did in the mountains where Rick was stuck! I am in the middle of a ginger bread house build with Kinsey, and our roof does not want to stay on, I have tried everything.....the touch of a newly turned 3 year old is not as light as the house would appreciate!!! It might look like it has been seriously snowed on too---it might be 98% icing by the time we are through, but she is soooo proud! Will try to get a pic of her with it! Better go see how our last patch job held. I had to walk away, before I lost it, with it, with her--with the mess I made!!! I do not want it to be anything but a fun experience for her---that is why we are doing it!!! I gave her a spoon to lick and turned on cartoons--which is somewhat of a treat in itself!!! So maybe we can ignore the house long enough for the icing to set hard, and then go back to it. My DD had 3 wisdom teeth pulled yesterday, and is home hurting, I hate that! But her temper was short--so I brought Kinsey home with me, and found us a project!! Yesterday we made wooden ornaments colored with markers for everyone...and we made extras to use as gift tags on gifts----she still has kind of a yellow tinge where she ended up with marker all over her face!!! Good thing I am cheap, they may take her elsewhere!!! BBL!! Kat

Terry I am in absolute AWE over the necklace you created! Those links are beautiful. When I got my WWJD bracelet I knew you had wonderful talent and a good eye for the art of jewelry making, but OMG girl!!! To be able to produce that not just once, but repeatedly? I cannot say enough, it is beautiful, and has been said, the symbolism of each addition only adds to it's beauty. Especially knowing you chose those particular things for a sister, needing those particular blessings----you are so special, and so talented!! Jenn---I am betting on the necklace! And on you! You will get through these trying times, and be victorious! I just received a letter from our church yesterday, they are joining with several other local churches and holding a service in our church on Monday-calling it a Blue Monday service. It is non denominational, and it deals strictly with depression this time of year. Whether your depression is brought on by the untimely death of a loved one, the first holidays without them, financial insecurity, lonliness, loss of a pet----whatever! It said that everywhere you go you get the HO HO HO and Merry Christmas, and the insinuations that we should all be happy, and that when you can't find your happy--it just makes it all seem worse. So this service is supposed to nourish the soul, not elaborate on WHY we are celebrating, but instead on how blessings and love were bestowed when needed, and how to ease your aching heart. The letter reads as though it is a service that is being offered in areas throughout the country. Mine is a Methodist Church, not sure that is anything important, as it stressed it was non denominational---but maybe you should look around--check the religion section of your paper---see if you can find one. I know you have mentioned your own relationship with God....or I would not have brought it up. My best friend, Becky is planning to go, she is struggling this year. Last year, she spent Christmas in the hospital, with her Dad who died on the 27th. Her Mom is heaping on the guilt that Becky is going on with things, and trying to center this Christmas around her Grandson, and knowing her youngest son is proposing to his long time girlfriend in a few days. Her Mom keeps saying she can't believe she can cdo these things----that she can't forget....making her feel terrible. I so want to say things about her Mom, but refrain, and instead will go to services with her if she wants! Today Kinsey and I are making a gingerbread House! She is so excited, she wanted to do it last night, but it was too late. So as soon as I want to brave the snow and the snowy roads, I will go get her and we will build a house! I finally figured out that I think when I lose my posts, I am reaching my finger for the shift key and hit control or something---but I am with you--it infuriates me! I have my next to last batch of peanuts in roasting now---one more! Then it is on to Chex Mix!!! And I need to finish the bears/turtles----it goes so much faster without my helper, but it is not nearly as fun! Hoping my DD is feeling better today, poor thing! Tracy a size 10? I know I will not make a 10 until I get this belly gone! Laura, you look wonderful, how was the game? Michelle will be thinking of you cooking away as I do today! Better get the table cleared off, it seems to be magnetic for junk---it ends up catching everything we fail to put up---as well as everything DH does not know where to put---you know he obviously has not lived here long enough to know yet, maybe in the next couple of decades!!! TTYL!! Kat

I ride too.....husband, horse and motorcycle, and have no problem with any of them!!! Welcome to LBT~~ Kat

House is cleared out, Rick made it only about 20 minutes late, and my MIl will not freeze before morning. So I guess all is well. My DD looked like hell! Her poor face was swollen so bad, and she was really bleeding! She slept here for several hours, then Ryan picked her up and they were going home. I kept Kinsey up all afternoon, so she would go to bed early for her. Lindzie is with her other Grandma, going to see The Nutcracker tonight. Kinsey wanted to go watch them dance, but didn't get to go---which is all ok, she will be old enough some day! I am exhausted and off to bed. Talk to you all in the morning! Kat

Sounds better than hot wings! Everyone that does not want to hear (see?) me whine and complain, scroll on! We have another couple and a couple of guys from Rick's work due here within the next 45 minutes. I run into my MIL in Walmart, and she knew it. So when they got home from Walmart, they found out the blower on their wood stove is out--so FIL went to buy one, and then piddle farted around, and did not get it on before he had to go out to dry watch tonight. So MIL called Rick at work of course, she won't call me! So now all these people are coming over, dinner is done, and he is off trying to engineer the wrong blower, because she is freezing. Now they DO have a furnace, with plenty of butane....and the stove works, it just heats by radiating heat rather than blowing it, but she lays the guilt on like no other, and I have about had my fill of it! Aaarrggghhh!!!!!!!!! Can I send her to your idiot customer they can whine and complain together Laura!!!! Gotta go get things finished, just needed to get this out before everyone arrived. Thanks as usual!! Kat

I think you should definitely discuss it with your Dr. if it does not change, so that he can guide you. There are some people my surgeon said, that the mere placement of the band itself, brings it in contact with the Vagus (?) nerve, and that eliminates the hunger signal. Common sense says to me---that you should eat....but take full advantage of the non hunger, to cut down the amount, the frequency, and to assure that what you do bother with eating, is healthy and full of nourishment for your body as it continues to heal. While it would be nice to just be able to avoid all food while you are not hungry, that is not the ideal thing for your body. I also think Snowbird has a valid point. If you make sure to stay full on the healthy foods in your eating plan, then you will be much less likely to snack on the less healthy, merely for the distraction of eating, or the burst of flavor---or whatever. You will find your path----what a great start you have!!! Kat

Just have a few--Manda is already swollen, and bleeding terribly. She is not in pain yet, she is still numb, I have given her her first pain pill. Poor thing! Just wanted to say Michelle---LOVE the picture! Got in in the mail today---I love getting cards from all of you! Will check in later after the crowd leaves. I'm with Pamela, would love the recipe, has all the things in it I like!!! Kat

Laura I in no way meant to imply that you were at fault. I never read where she had received the actual invoice. When I was running my business, people thought since it was a small operation, that they could call me with an amount due, or just tell me, and I could pay it. When in reality 90% of what I was paying for whatever, was tax deductable for me---so I had to have the paper trail. I know in some ways churches are similar to my Day Care in that manner....so many tax issues. I would definitely find out who is in charge. Even if you speak to the pastor of that church, and let him/her know how this woman is projecting the church they run. In actuality she is likely bully-ing them too! Maybe Judy has an idea of the chain of command in this situation! Please don't think I was insinuating you were at fault, I did not mean that at all. I just hate to see her ruining your happy Christmasy spirit. I would rather her wallow in her own misery than allow her to pull you in. Well I am almost positive I did something to my band. I am begining to think I did it doing all of the shoveling out of the snow. It has been since that day that my restriction has changed. I am not in pain, and I am able to eat. So I am going to take it very easy with the food, and see how it goes. If ever I get pain, or lose restriction totally I will be on the road to my Dr. Eating in the morning, is just not happening! By evening I can eat small amounts. But is my scale changing? nope! I am not exercising like I should be. I hate trying to exercise in the winter! Did you get your elliptical assembled? As busy as you guys are Judy, it may be next year before you get a day off together to do it....without the bosses (Ethan) help that is!! I can so relate! Wooohoooo it is Friday for Pamela!! What do you and Susanne have planned for the long weekend? I ended up with weekend plans---and didn't really want them! Today I am taking Manda to the maxillofacial (sp?) surgeon. She is having her remaining 3 wisdom teeth removed. Then I will bring her and Kinsey back here, and put her down on the sofa or one of the beds, and let her recover some before taking her home. Then see how she is tomorrow. If she is not up to it, I am going to take Kinsey to Manda's company party for the kids, at a local rec center. Lindzies Mom refused to allow her to come home for the day to go. So----I get to chase Kinsey around a pool (fun! not!) and all kinds of activity spaces. Then Sunday Manda wants to do her baking for the guys at work--at my house! Sunday night we take the kids on the Polar Express Train ride. The Narrow Guage Train in Durango CO, is an old coal /steam train....very cool! For this, the conductors in each car are dressed accordingly and read the story of the Polar Express as the train heads out...all the kids are encouraged to wear jammies. While he reads and walks the aisle showing pictures, and answering questions, they come through and serve the kids luke warm hot chocolate! Then just as the story winds down you get to the place they stop, and there it is all lit up with Santa, and elves, and helpers, and reindeer....and LOTS of snow this year. Each child receives a bell wrapped up from Santa (reference to the book). Becky and I took the grandkids last year, last year BP (the company she and Manda work for) paid for it as part of the kids Christmas party--this year, we did---they should be understanding more of it now. Her Grandson is a train fanatic, so we are going for that reason! At any rate, it is not stacking up to be a relaxing weekend! And Rick just called, and he has guys coming to watch football tonight! Stupid Thursday games are only on the NFL network---unavailable on standard cable here. So....gotta come up with something to feed them all. Think hot wings will be the plan---not a lot of work involved, adn they can be eaten by hand!! Better get out to the freezer. Will catch the rest of you later!! ((hugs)) Especially big ones to Terry and Jenn--and lots of good wishes to Michelles Evan!!! Kat

Are you taking any vitamins or anything? It is going to be important to try to keep your nutrition up, or you will begin to feel fatigued very easily, or even lower your immunity to illness I understand. With that being said, the goal is to not eat if you are not hungry---part of that being that the stomach must still be holding food, and you do not want to overfill it and risk eventual dilation. That seems to me as if it would be very unlikely, because as you lose, from not eating so much, your band will become naturally looser, and then you will be able to eat more, until the next fill etc. Sounds to me as if you are handling it, eating just a bit, and making good choices of things to eat. Not shoving a chip in just to make sure something gets eaten!!! Another question! Are you drinking plenty --- after the recommended waiting period? Drinking your water will help flush the pouch of the food, and allow you to eat. You need the hydration, and as you know even if you flush out the whole egg eventually---all you are going to do is eat another small amount at lunch---you are not going to be able to go back to eating 2 eggs, sausage, toast, and hashbrowns---those days are gone----aren't you amazed!! Try increasing the amount of fluid you are drinking, and see if you are not able to eat 3 small meals and at times a few bites will be all you might be able to eat---I would not worry about it--but you might make note to remember to ask your Dr. when you see him. These are just some guesses!!! We all react so differently---it is hard to guage what is right for someone else. Good Luck--- Kat

Mine is in reverse!!! I can wear a 12 or 14 on bottom, and still require minimally a 20 on top! I have lost my "back boobs"---and my bra band has dropped several sizes---but the cup size has actually increased. I also tend to buy tops big to get the length to cover my belly, which is my biggest problem, all the extra skin, still some fat in there too!!! My legs---I am thrilled with! My butt, is a bit deflated, but is ok overall, not a lot of saggy skin or anything, but boy from there up it is not a pretty picture!!! Looking at a possible TT early 2008. I had scheduled my appointments for consultations, then this damn thyroid thing come up, and not knowing what kind of treatment I was looking at, things kind of stalled. Now they don't want me doing anything until they get me levelled again---with hormone supplement. So will have to wait and see when it gets done. When the belly is gone, I am afraid, the girls will look way too big, and way too low!!! I was afraid I was going to go from a DD to a Long---now I know I will need a long DD!!! Kat

Yea I got card #1 today Judy---I loved it, I now look forward to #2! You sound like you assemble things like we do. Rick does the old look at the box and begin. Me I find the instructions and begin with step one....only after getting plastic bowl for all the nuts & bolts, and assembling the tools it says we need. I am a bit of an organization freak when it comes to things that way!!! On the good side though, we got our elliptical as well as many, many other things through the years---and we haven't killed one another yet! Weather here today was cold, but clear. I had to go to Lowes, and then picked up some things in Walmart for my brother, he never knows what to get my kids, so I helped! I tell him nothing, but forget that! TracyK that is a good thing, it will make moving soooo much easier, not having to secure things, and cover them for a long trip. And everything will be familiar. I have so many NSV's that I would have serious problems figuring out which was #1....think it depends on the mood or the day or something! I loved running into my old boyfriend, and he told me I had not changed a bit! He was just gone for many years, and did not see the 100 pound climb, or the 100 pound loss!! I felt so awesome that he thought I had not changed---which I know we had both aged, but I was not ashamed to be facing him! I mean he had a bit of a belly beginning on him too!! But 100 pounds ago, I would have been very self concious of how much I had changed from when he knew me....which is about 130 pounds ago. It is the feeling--the one where I no longer worry about standing out in a crowd simply due to my weight. Whether it is with the old bf, or walking into a restaurant, or across a parking lot---I am not a young thing garnering lots of attention for looking good, nor am I worried about them seeing me as HUGE---I just feel normal. In all reality, I almost always felt within a reasonably normal range. I never worried that people were going to go home and discuss the huge, fat woman they saw in the store today....but when being looked at----I felt ashamed of myself, and I don't feel that way anymore. Painting my toenails myself, fitting in the shower with DH, buying in the Misses, and even the Juniors dept., chasing my grandkids--really running and chasing them, and giving them horsey back rides, knowing seat belts will fit, and I will fit in seats, and that almost all weight limits are now below me, knowing one size fits most---I'm a most now! The list goes on and on and on!!! Laura--was everyone with this organization (church did you say?) rude like this or was it limited to the one woman who gave you such grief all along---this is the same one you spoke of before with the meeting etc? I think if it were just her, I would speak to someone else about the situation...surely you and your company are not the only ones she is making the church look bad with! ---Now on the other hand with the $$$ side of it, I would imagine they are like most business--and would only pay the invoice when it was sent and likely once a month, she may have taken the continued emails as harrassing. I see why you were doing it, but...having heard her history, I imagine that set her off again! I do not mean to be playing Devils Advocate here, but I know from running my own small business, I never paid a bill without a written invoice of some sort, leaving me a paper trail. And when you are dealing with a church, they answer up several levels, while only certain ones have actual money access. She must be one of them though to be making the original agreement. Kill her with kindness, send her a card again! Don't let her drag you down, you did right by her---don't let her pull you to her level! Yep Suzanne--I have to agree with the article too!! I did low fat for over a year. I bought into the whole thing that I could eat like 14 baked potatoes and have less fat than one single slice of cheese! I worked hard at it, exercise and all, and in that year, I dropped my cholesterol 7 points, and lost 24 pounds. It was hard! Then I did Atkins, which is low carb. Holy smoke! I lost weight almost as fast as with the band! Now the second I added carbs back into the diet, the weight soared!!!!!!!!! I was starving all the time--where as when I was doing the no carb thing, I was not craving them, but give me one and I want them all! My cholesterol did not go back up---it remained steady, until I lost this time, and it dropped some more. But low carbing it, will drop weight on me FAST!! Even with the band, if I want to jump start losing again, the first thing I get rid of is anything white! Potatoes, bread, rice....Get plenty of protein, and I feel good, and the weight drops. The thing with me is I hate feeling deprived! I hate not being able to have something! It nags at my brain non stop! So I always thought I could just have a little bit, and that was always my down fall. With the band, I truly can have just a little bit and I am fine! Give it a try--I bet you are shocked! Well speaking of food! Kinsey wanted fish and corn on the cob for lunch, so we went to Captain D's--like Long John Silvers---I managed almost a full fish fillet. Got over full, thought I was going to lose it all right then there--but it passed!!! Gotta go-- Kat

Judy, I know I shouldn't do this, but gonna take a chance and speak for everyone here!!! I would love mail with pictures ANYTIME!!!!!!! It doesn't have to be Christmas, or a holiday--or it can be another Christmas card----I love it all!!! Put something in my mail box that does not have the words "pay this amount" and I am a happy camper. EEeewww for awhile I think I need to change my 'happy camper'......camping was not such a happy thing lately!!! Kinsey is a bit out of sorts this morning. She made a mess in her room, she got out blocks, and now does not want to pick them up! She flops her arms down and says she needs a bubble bath! Today we are making pecan bears---aka turtles. But we leave the pecans peaking out like arms & legs & head. I think it is something she can do with me....and you know they eat just as well if the pecans are not set just so! I feel so wierd not wanting to eat. I hear blocks going in the bag--guess I will go and start a bubble bath!! TTYL~~ Kat

Ok---thanks! I have never made a poll----so you are already ahead of me in how to do it!!! Kat

Any way of making your poll a private one? I don't care to be argued with for my political stance---and as it stands now this is a public poll. There is a reason they put curtains on voting booths!!! I will say I would prefer my kids to hear of Bills dalliances than to try to explain a war even I don't understand these days.... Kat

How fun that they take special pics of the kids. I bet they sell a lot more of them, I know when my kids were in school, it was always just a head shot in front of a blurred blue background--same exact thing they used when I was in school!! Denise---Hopefully your DD will get past the sickness soon. I never had any morning sickness at all, but still lost weight for the first trimester every time! Getting pregnant is not an option for losing weight tho!!! When Manda had Kinsey, my best friend gave her a baby shower---and they about laughed me out of the house, I had so much stuff to bring! That was nothing---I split it up because a friend of Manda's gave her one as well!! I made her crib set---the bumper pads, and quilts, because we could not find anything at the time she was born in the color/pattern she wanted. Her nursery was done in denim blue and pink gingham check. By the time she was a year old, there was pink gingham check everywhere!! She was going to be a winter baby, so I did blankets---you name it I did it, crocheted, quilted, fleece, flannel!! I had so much fun though! So TracyK if we were closer you could drop Macy off to play while y'all moved. How far away is the house you are leasing? Have you checked out the Old Navy Bargains section on their website? We ordered several outfits for the kids yesterday---at good prices! Most of their jeans have the adjustable waist, I love that! Judy----I see your pic in your signature, and I want my card to get here so I can see it for real!! I am not a patient person!! LOL Hope the day looks up for Terry & Jenn!!! I see Suzanne and Michelle here the same time I am--HI girlies!! Off to get some things ready for Kinsey and I to make some candy. Not too concerned about eating it, I am not hungry for anything. Kinda concerns me......it is so wierd! Talk to y'all in awhile! Kat