Kat817

Thanks for the nice compliments!!! I am not being a whiny, poor me....but do want to clear this up---and know I will be hoping your excitement was just a tad early!!! My mammogram come back fine. My thyroid ultrasound did not. There is a tumor. We know nothing more about it. I have an appointment with a surgeon this week (Wed.) I want to get into an endocrinologist-but we do not have one locally, so I am looking into Colorado, and Albuquerque. When I locate one, that will accept my insurance, then I will try to get in ASAP, and go from there. The surgeon they set me up with, has operated on my Mom. Ironically for a tumor on her Parathyroid (my parathyroids were clean), and she has a scar all the way across her throat, and she does not have the scarring issues I do! So I am really trying to avoid him if possible. Not to mention he has a serious case of little man syndrome---especially it seemed to me, dealing with women bigger than him---like me! So, I didn't come here to feel aww poor me! But I didn't want to spring the surgeon appointment on you next week, if everyone was thinking all was well. I am hoping it is nothing serious---I am of course concerned....but at this point in time, mostly just trying to find a course of action that satisfies both me and my Dr., and the insurance. Would be nice just to pick a Dr., but I have to find one who will accept my insurance. If I do a biopsy and get bad news...I will likely go to Scottsdale, there is a highly recommended Dr. there. And the Mayo will accept all insurance options. However, hoping it does not come to that. I think I am just in the "hoping for the best, preparing for the worst" frame of mind. Rick's football team is getting slaughtered, and making him unhappy!!! How dare they! Well the last load of laundry is ready to be folded, and then I can put it all away and be done with it for a week! Maybe we should explore nudity, cut down on the laundry! Kat

That ended up all jacked up!!!! hmmmmmmmmm

TracyK I am 5'9"---I look like the jolly green giant next to Kelly!!! Oh well, I is what I is! You will be under 30 BMI before you know it!!! I am loving being an overweight loser! Will like it better being a normal weight loser!!! Not sure if or when I will get there, but just gonna keep plugging along! Well going to get the rest of this work done before Rick gets home, so I can kick back with him. Talk to y'all later! Kat Judy I agree, I would love to see lots of pics! Got all the laundry done, the house is pretty well done, need to vacuum. Everything is put away, now just the finishing touches, vaccum and dust. And I can call it a day and watch football with Rick this afternoon! I too have been slacking off with the drinking. In the heat of summer, it is easier, I find myself wanting a nice cool drink, but now as it gets cooler, it is harder for me. Someone said coffee doesn't count....but I count my iced tea! I drink home brewed decaffeinated iced tea, and I count it! LOL!!!

This one is almost the same, but thought I'd share it anyway!!! Kat Oh yeah, the red neck is from a reaction to one of the gels they used during my ultrasound and scan of my thyroid....

Kelly and I again, we laughed at the halo the beer sign in the background gave her!!! I enjoyed meeting her sooooo much! Kat

Kelly (want2bmeagain) and I having tea at the restaurant....we talked non stop for hours!

TracyK---offend us? Piss us off? No way!!! We are here to support one another, and part of support is celebrating success! It gives us incentive! Lets us know it CAN be done! Mini chocolate donut be damned---you deserve the recognition---shout it from the rooftops for every ounce you lose, that's one of the reasons we are here!!! Aww Pamela---sorry you are so sick!!!! I do know that antibiotics do not help viral infections, and I can imagine some people have abused their bodies with them...but...I know me! I know me better than any Dr. knows me, especially one in an Urgent Care that is not your regular Dr. A good 90% of the time, if I get a serious enough upper respiratory infection to cause fever etc. if I do not treat with antibiotics, I will get a secondary bacterial infection, usually in my sinus'. I know my Dr. well enough now, I ask for the prescription, and tell him...I do not want to come back in 4 days, feeling worse. I want to offset it! He actually has told me, to hold the prescription, I may not need it...yeah, uh huh!!!! Hope you feel better soon!!! Sick sucks so bad, and Susanne is not there to take care of you---wish I could help! Judy, glad your concerts went well, I knew they would! Jenn, glad you are feeling some better! How is the burn by the way? Hope I didn't make you mad with my opinion of the bf. You deserve much better! Going to add some pics of my new LBT friend Kelly (want2bmeagain) and I from yesterday. I know if you added more than one for awhile it just gave links, so I am going to do it the way I know it works, and do one at a time! Will check in with ya in awhile!! Going to uload the dishwasher! And fold some laundry! Kat

And the last one, and yes girls, I know I need new clothes that fit!! I suddenly need long sleeves, and have NONE that fit!!! And you can see I reacted to the one gel they used to scan my neck area---it is not itchy, just red!! Kat

And another......we laughed at the beer sign giving her a halo!!!

Kelly (want2bmeagain) & I having tea!

Good morning girls-- It is so good to see everyone posting again---life is cycling...summer is coming to a close, and home feels like home to me again! This summer we spent a huge amount of time making mini trips here and there on the bike...was great fun. But I do like the seasonal changes, by the time one rolls into the next, I am usually ready. I am not a big fan of winter...it COULD be a shorter season, and not hurt my feelings!!! But the snuggle in at home, with DH, a fire, something simmering in the crockpot, and vegging in front of the TV is sounding more appealling!!! Not mowing the lawn won't be too sad either! If we could get this shop up, and eliminate the junk from my garage that is overflowing into the house, it would help immensley!!!! My mammogram come back good, got the notification by mail yesterday---shows no signs of cancer....yea!!! My ultrasound showed tumor growth on my thyroid. Will be seeing a surgeon, and an endocrinologist, as soon as I can fine an endo. who will take my insurance. We have none where I live---not just none who take my insurance, we just have none. So I have feelers out into Colorado, and into Albq. trying to find one who I can see. Meantime I will see a local surgeon next week. Why? I have no idea. I am not going to let them operate on me, but it is a required step I suppose. I want an endo, so they can biopsy it and determine what's going on BEFORE I deal with a surgeon!!! Will keep you posted. Kinda unsettling, but I am ok. If need be the thyroid can be dealt with---it could be much, much worse. Thanks for all your concerns!!! My eye is fine, the windshield replaced. And yes, where I was driving,was in the mountains of Colorado, where many different hunts are on. The Sherrifs deputy made out like it was not a hunting issue because it was not a huge rifle shot....but as Rick pointed out, there are multiple hunts...not just large game! He looked at our friend Gary's proclomation, and it is legal to be hunting dove, and it is always legal to shoot coyote's...just 2 that would require a smaller shot. I believe it was nothing more than a freak accident, I was shocked to find out it was not just a rock! But the truck and I are both back to good again!!! Don't see myself going there alone again though---!!! I told you last week about hooking up with my old friend that I had been apart from for several years. Since she made it back home, we have talked on the phone almost everyday! We have once again exchanged all of our contact info. When the state moved her to Alamogordo, they lost 8 boxes. The boxes, were included in another load of freight they told her. In one of the boxes was both her address book, and her bulletin board from in front of her computer. All of her computer desk, computer, software, everything she packed from that area of her home, was gone. She never called after getting moved in...her email had changed of course....eventually I called her Mom, and her number had been disconnected, she had moved in with my friends brother...it was all these hit and miss connections, until finally she just showed back up here, and we have them all down again!!! She is getting married next summer---it is official now! July 11th! It is so good to be connected to her again! Then here a couple of months ago, I was contacted by a LBT member wondering if I was in an area close to where she was going to be visiting family and coming to work for a weekend. We figured out she would be just a few miles away! So yesterday she called, and we got together, and had a GREAT time!!! We just sat and drank ice tea and talked for hours! We had a great waitress, who just kept filling the glasses, and leaving us alone! She even took some pictures for us, and didn't want us to pay for our tea!!! I told her fine, then keep it as a tip! Kelly, was great! We never ran out of things to talk about, we just ran out of time! Her mom lives not too terribly far from me, so I know I will at least get to see her from time to time, I look forward to it, it made for a wonderful day!!!! I will include the pics! ON LBT she is want2bmeagain. I too have laundry going, and housework underway...took a break and sat down here, and threw some things together, calling it a quiche for Breakfast, and waiting for it to finish cooking!!! Sherry, I agree, I had to back scroll and look for the tatt!!! Pat is right, it IS a tapestry, did you ever just take a pic of it for us??? I think you and Mandy both need to take some pics of them and show us. Looks like you all had a great time!!! I am jealous!!! I keep thinking we will go again this year, then I put it off, let the kids get a little older so they remember it!! I took my DD several times, but she only vaguely remembers any of them before kindergarden. Not sure I can wait that long! We are going to have Mason as Darth Vadar, Ally as a Pixie, Lindzie as a Geisha, Kinsey as a Queen, and Connor as a devil for Halloween this year. Connor screams everytime you even try to get him to try his devil suit on...and Kinsey is not wanting to be scary... so....they could have a fun night!!! I intend on getting my Halloween things out this afternoon...I have tons of scarecrows, kinda like them! Well I am going to go and eat my breakfast now that it is done, and get busy. Will check in with y'all later! Kat I did this in Quick reply, will have to go advanced to add pics I think...will go try it, if not I'll be hollering for help!

I don't think everyone is ignoring you Linda, I personally am just not sure who you are addressing....... Since I have not lost 150 pounds, I know it isn't me!!! Let us know and we can try to help! Kat

Without hauling my butt to the back of the house, I cannot tell you what the brand is...I went into the local Medicine Shoppe, and told Davida (my friend the pharmacist) what I wanted---and that I could not swallow large pills. She gave me these...we opened them there, and I still thought they were too big. So she checked, and there was not a problem, with breaking them up. She offered to cut each of them in half...but they were not cutting exactly even all the time, so we quit, and each day, I take one, break it in half and swallow away, with my meal, and never have had a problem with it. Back last year, when my DH had all his heart health issues (tomorrow will be one year to the day he had his massive GI bleed, and his Dr. told me he would likely expire in the next 10-15 minutes!)---he was put on tons of meds. In order to keep them straight, and keep us on schedule, we became overnight "oldfolks" and began using the daily pill holder boxes!!! But he had morning pills, and night pills, and one day he took one amount of coumadin, the next day another amount, we had to keep close track!!! Well now he takes much less medicine, and I use one of his pill taker things!!!! I load them weekly, and can keep the medicine locked away---literally! We have young grandkids in our house everyday, we don't leave anything out like that!!!! I will try to remember tomorrow to look for a brand for you! Kat

LOL Ms. Jen-----sure am glad you are out there looking out for all of us!!! (((hugs))) No offense but your old man likely does not have a clue what he is missing!!! Laura---looking good girl, much...MUCH more like a girl your age! DH is gonna be scrambling to keep your attention on him!!! Pamela---sorry you are sick! I had to think of you today. The friend I met from LBT, we are sitting in the booth at the restaurant, chatting away about band this and that, and eventually we kind of swerve off into life topics, and how the band has affected them. She looks at me and says something to the effect that she has a partner, and she is very supportive. I don't know if she thought that would surprise me, or be a problem....lol. Even without my friend Pamela, it would not have been a problem! Kind of made me laugh to myself, my cousin Deb, told me the exact same way....Kathy you do know I have a partner now...? Her being my cousin, I gave her all kinds of grief! I told her "NO friggin' way!!!!" As she kind of recoiled I continued "Does she know about the gal I saw you snuggled up to in the car at Aunt Bev's last week?" She freaks out---"that's her!!!" Like I didn't know that!!! I have no idea how difficult it is to guage how strangers are going to take to your lifestyle. I know how some of my family took it when I said I was getting married yet again, after the disasters I had created in my life prior!! Not a good feeling - being judged, for trying to make myself happy...is the best I can relate it to. I hope my friend, knows it does matter, but only in the sense that I hope she is happy---and she seems to be, they have been together happily for 12 years.... Judy---how did the performance go last night, did I miss the post? I was full of good wishes for you, and lost my post, figured by the time I redid it, your concert was likely half over, but I was thinking about you!!!! TracyK--does your sister just shop a lot, or own a boutique or what? I knew I needed a sister!!! My brother is super tall and skinny, and has really pathetic taste---don't hold any hope for pass ons or hand me downs from him!!! Michelle--got ya, and got you added!!! And Claire will never know she had a temporary name change!!! Think I will take my DD and DGD out to breakfast in the morning. I made her a little mad this morning...being too much of a Mom!!! She is alone for the weekend, BF is on a hunting trip, and his DD is with her Mom for the first time since all the chaos----but the boyfriend is gone...no worries of him showing back up, he is in Arizona in jail, he had unpaid fines from an old car wreck, and was picked up with his brother, when his brother got stopped. Lindzie wanted to go, and they figured this would be a good time. Leaves my DD and her DD all alone. Terry---what did you bead today??? Tracy---woohoo on the Garth tickets! Should be lots of fun! DH bought tickets today, but it was for a comedy show...Rodney Carrington....some people do not like him, but Rick about gave himself a hernia laughing last time so we are going again. Well, I am going to go surf for a little while, and then call it a night. Talk to all of you in the morning! Kat

The prenatal Vitamins didn't seem to help much with the loss of hair, but the hair I had left, seemed to become healthier...silkier, and just felt heavier, if that makes any sense. But it worked wonders with my nails!!! People swear I have acrylics, and they are all mine! I continue with the vitamins to this day, I figure they can't be hurting, and since I have them, might as well take them! Kat

Get your Protein in, but try not to depend on it, or be too heart broken if it happens anyway---it did to me as well as WABB---I too took in plenty of protein, and it did NOT prevent, nor help the loss as far as I could tell. I never abandoned the protein intake, so I suppose it could have been worse if I had---I could have went completely bald! I do not mean to be short--I truly don't! I just find it extremely frustrating to know I tried all of these things, protein being the biggest and most commonly mentioned, and none of it helped. Is reminiscent of the diet and still gain weight days---making me feel like I was doing something wrong, no matter how hard I tried. I too have had the lab checks done---just got new ones. Kat

I pre treat for dental work due to a heart murmur---was never informed of doing so due to the band---glad I was covered!!! I had to ask for different forms of the antibiotics though, had horse pills prior to banding...now use the nastiest liquid imaginable, makes it the worst part of dental work!!!! Kat

I just got home from a wonderful morning!!! Met up with friends to do the Oktoberfest thing, went to the parade, and had breakfast together. Then a friend from here at LBT that was going to be in the area called, and we met up! We spent the next 2-3 hours, maybe longer talking non stop!!! I was already downtown at the parade and all so I had no camera, but she did, we got the waitress to snap some pics, she is going to email them to me, and I will share them when I get them! It was such fun! Makes me want to meet all of you sooo bad though!!! I invited her over, she is just a few weeks out, and is doing great, but her monthly thread is kinda slow, not a lot of support...I told her you guys could fix that! Pamela, sorry this class is stressing you so....I had all these thoughts, but Terry said them so well---I'm just gonna second her! Jenn--how 'bout if us sisters get together and ban you from seeing the ex in any way except to confer over the DS? We will be the bad guys! He is obviously not putting you or the kids first...and you are right, with your kids asthma, insurance is a monumental thing! You need to keep your anger at him, let all the other feelings go, but hang onto the anger, til you get past the other feelings. Back in the day when my ex cheated on me, it is how I had to be to get through it and away from him. Let us know how we can help you be strong....cuz we do want to help....but kinda like the band, we can only be a tool---you have to do the hard parts! Sitting here waiting for Rick, and he just pulled up! I knew it was close to time! Not sure what the remainder of the day holds for us....may an Oktoberfest brewski for him, some tea for me...I am going to float away today!!! Will check in with you in awhile, and send you a pic when I get it....might be hollering for help from one of you picture resizer helpers!!! Today was such fun, we have GOT to get together!!!! Kat

Claustrophobia---not in its worst form, but it is still there!!! We went to some Indian Ruins not long ago, and in order to get out of the area we were we were expected to crawl through a tunnel....uh-uh, noway, not in this life time! They had to get another guide to lead me back the way we come.... There is a place in Denver (you may have seen the Southpark episode) called Casa Bonita, they have a tunnel, big enough to stand in, but it curves around and is filled with fun things for the kids.....which was all fine and dandy but those damn kids were breathing all of MY air!!!! Y'all mention walking on Water, I walked right over the tops of those munchkins getting my butt out of there!!! Kat

Welcome back Vinesqueen....nice to see you again! Kat

Everytime I try to post on the laptop, I get almost done, and lose the post. It is just enough smaller, and things in different places, that I go to backspace, or capitalize, and poof it disappears...and takes my happy mood with it. It thoroughly ticks me off!!!! So...gonna try it again! It is probably too late now, but I did wish Judy luck, and still do, although I know she will do wonderfully!!! I know exactly what you mean about feeling younger, I think I lost years as well as pounds, I feel better than I have in the last 10-15 years! At least! The Beatles White Album was the first gift I ever bought my DH. We both knew why he had been hinting that it was the only one he didn't have....So on his birthday I had several gifts, and he went right for the one that looked like a CD would be in it, and found a belt buckle. I told him I was sorry and we could continue to look, but I didn't find the album....he was bummed, but didn't let on....he opened some other piddly things, then opened a box with a pair of jeans, and lying on top of the jeans in this fair sized box was his album....wrapped, then covered with an entire roll of duct tape! It ended up huge! He looked at it for a second, because it no longer looked square...then he started laughing, he knew it wasn't a duct tape bowling ball!! We have went to several Beatlemania concerts, as well as a couple of other tribute bands. Would love to see the one you told about Terry! Took the kids to lunch today, SIL was surprisingly normal acting!! He has always doted on Kinsey, he thinks she is wonderful...but even she made him pale today!!! Abbey ordered a salad, so they brought a basket with assorted crackers---which he promptly organized!!! He offered Kinsey some, which she loved, but as I watched her, about half way through, they got too dry, she needed a drink. I gave her her tea, and when she drank it, you could see her crackers backwashing -- he physically went pale!!! But he was good otherwise, ate his cheeseburger with a knife and fork, and kinda grossed out on Rick finishing my food I had been eating on...but was an ok day. DD is having problems with migraines. Worries us of course. Michelle-would have loved to be there to celebrate your NSV with you!!! We could have a great time!!! Getting everyones info together...waiting for any additions, will send a PM to check--so far I have not offended anyone doing so!!! So I need Spouse or Significant others names if there is one, and birthdates on y'all. Amanda'a address looks so different!!! Well Rick is on his way in, and dinner is about half done---guess I'll go speed things up. Check in with you guys in awhile!!! Kat

I always seem to gain insight from Wheetsin. Another one I loved, and I will have to go back and look it up, was one wrote tongue in cheek about leaving her "lover"....food behind. Kat

We did our best when trying to help outfit YOU awhile back, I am sure we can give equally opposing opinions on any room you want to redo!!! How serious of a redo job are we talking?? Kat

I too lost massive amounts of hair doing Atkins....which put to rest any thought that is was lack of Protein or fats...that is what I lived on on Atkins I think!!! My hair loss began as most do at about 4 months, very minor, progressing to an alarming point, that made my scalp visible! I hated putting it up in a ponytail, because it showed how scrawny my hair was!!! I lost hair until about 11-12 months out from surgery, when it stopped. Just as suddenly as it began. It was not breakage, you could actually see the hair bulb on the end of many strands. I tried Bioten, in fact took it prior to surgery, and until I ran out, and the hair was cascading out of my head anyway, so said to heck with it!! I bought specialty shampoos, and other Vitamins....none of it seemed to make a difference. I had lost all of my hair before due to chemo, so it has been said that I am predisposed to hair loss---that may be, I have no idea. My hair is now growing back in with a vengeance!!! It has finally got to where some of it is actually reaching the ponytail holder, and I am down one less wrap!!! Mostly if I don't use a lot of product at this point, I look like a dandelion when it dries after the shower!!! Short curly hairs sticking up all over my head!!! I have an entire line of new bangs...about 2-3 inches long now....hair I am loving it!!! I wish I had an answer and a cure for all of you, as I know first hand how traumatic it is. BUT it will quit, and grow back...then you will have a full head of hair AND a hot bod to go with it!!! Hang in there---know I am sympathizing with you... Kat

There were straws on my tray in the hospital, with my broth, and juice. I have used them everyday since. If you wonder about it, and your Dr. says no---ask him why? He should be able to back up his requirement I would think. I do not get to the bottom of a glass and do like I did as a kid, and got in trouble for making drugstore static my Dad called it, and slurp nothing but drops and air. I do like Wheetsin said, it stays in the Fluid....banning straws never did make sense to me, I am glad my Dr. was not one against the use of them!!! Kat