Kat817

In some ways my small town may be considered backwards to many. In yet other ways, it is very accepting, and "with" the times. It was a town where my children were exposed to a wide variety of arts, arts of many mediums, many cultures etc. Some racial issues, are so common as not to be viewed by the outside world as different. I say to the outside world...simply because when you deal with it personally, you live the differences every day, you learn to either cope with them, or embrace them as your own. Cultural, and religious differences for instance, when we celebrate holidays in our family, we have several instances where the cultures have mingled...we have chose to combine and embrace as opposed to having separate celebrations. We live just miles from the fastest growing gay populated small town in America, according to the Associated Press anyway....I see no difference, we go there often, I see it growing leaps and bounds, but have no idea of who is living in all the new housing!!! Our kids grew up tolerant of homosexual lifestyles, despite being in a farming community. The racial tensions in our community are many government induced in my opinion. The differences in law between the Navajo Nation, an Indian reservation, and the surrounding non reservation towns are VAST!!! The laws governing the people as they travel back and forth between the reservation and the non reservation land change as well, and it causes great discord. Business people are required to do business basically with their hands tied behind their back. For instance....federal law prohibits discrimination when one applies for a car loan. And yet, if the car is sold, and then transported to the reservation, the loan company has to have approval of the tribal council to repossess, and the approval---is years in the coming. That goes for mobile homes, furniture, etc. Anything that can be moved to the reservation, is gone, repossession is hard coming. The DWI laws----any DWI a Native American is arrested for on the reservation will not count against them, when arrested for the same off of the reservation. An employment ad in our local paper, is often seen with the words "Native American hiring preference", and it is legal. When faced with inequities, such as these, especially younger people, who have not taken history into consideration, see nothing but the unfairness in their eyes....and racial tensions come up. I have company---will complete these thoughts later!!! Kat

Morning girls, Just a quick check in, doesn't look like we will go get wood as planned. Rick's neck is reacting to the hay we did VERY early yesterday morning----long story!!! Anyway, he has degenerative bone disease in his neck from a long ago whiplash injury, so is hurting....... I had to chime in---I take my grandkids to Build a Bear, it is part of the yearly birthday thing!!! We occasionally go for other holidays or special times, but EVERY birthday!!! I am totally draw to the opposite ones Eileenie!!! I love the old antique looking classic bears, the ones who look so sad compared to their colorful comrades!!! I have several on the shelf sitting together in the kids playroom---aka, the guest room!!! Ok, I am off to get some things done, my house is a wreck, and I know any second now, DH is going to be ready to DO something!!!! TTYL! Kat

Good Morning! I slept in, now we are deciding what to do with our day. Not sure if it will involve wood cutting afterall, Rick's neck is hurting. He has degenerative bone disease, in his neck, from an old whiplash injury. Not sure the chainsaw would be the ideal for him! Terry---we will be here to hear you vent your fears, angers and concerns, and to help you be strong against the cigarettes! Heck if nothing else, it will be good---you can tell the judge, you even quit smoking in the possibility the children would be living full time with you again!!! My friend Becky who we ride with and go out with all the time, she quit a month ago, and for some reason this weekend was hard on her. Maybe because so many at rallies smoke? She was a bit on the grumpy side (which is a joke, she is never a bit of anything---it is balls to the wall!!!), and really wanted to smoke, but made it through without! You will too!!! You made it through the worst of it---and the lack of weight gain is TOTALLY impressive!!!! I could not say that!!! Laura, good luck on your trip. Does your DH agree to the fact that his drinking too much is an issue? I suggest a well placed video camera should he ever do it again, and counceling to follow. It isn't a good sign, of the anger inside his head in my thinking---maybe the video games allow him to be the bad guy???? Just grasping at ideas here!!!! TracyK---think there is a baby boy in your future? One without the tears? Dreams ironically really wake us up sometimes! Pamela, I responded to another thread, that some of our Violets also responded on, in which I went into detail of my disasterous 2nd marriage. Usually I avoid the subject of him, and the horrors he brought into my life. I will say he has made me aappreciate the lull in real life. I can look around on a lazy stay at home day, and appreciate the calm...even all these years later. I can honestly say my biggest fear in life is his release from prison, but I try not to dwell on that thought often. So far my understanding is that he is far from a perfect prisoner, and has cost himself more time, and a loss of parole option at least once in the past, and I have never been notified since. He has outstanding warrants in my town. So local law enforcement will again be notified of his possible release date so he can clear them up, and serve any local time. Our former police chief assured me he would never bring him back here, he would drop the charges first, as opposed to bringing him right into my backyard, which he had "decorated" leading to some of the local warrants, others though include battery on a Police officer, and our new COP, is not willing to discuss it with me. So.....life goes on with me a a little in the dark. Parole board has to notify me....they say.....we hope! Well, I am going to get my house picked up a bit while we decide what we are doing. Will check in later girlies----and Pamela, you and Susanne can come to my house any old time!!! Cannot guarantee dream quality service....but will do my BEST!!! And Terry---want to live in CO huh? Any where particular? I am only 11 miles from the Durango area border----feel free to use my place to check out your dream locale!!! TTYL! Kat

Hi all! We are back safe and sound from our weekend at the rally. We had a blast! Rick took me shopping, and bought me a new jacket, my old one was a tad big now!!!! I bought a girls jacket this time, the leather braid, matches my chaps! My cousins wife, makes leather goods, belts to furniture! She took up my chaps, they were simple to redo---but my old coat, was a mens classic motorcycle jacket, the new one is girly. Rick insists he loves it and it looks good he said. I am not so sure, it feels snug, and I still have this belly---but you know I don't really care what others think---if he thinks I look good, I can deal with it! I am tired, and heading to bed, just letting everyone know we made it back safely. Tomorrow we are off to cut wood! Will check in when I get back if I can find the energy to move, it is hard work! I hate summer coming to an end, but it was a GREAT weekend! Kat

Hi all---we are back safe & sound!!! What a great weekend! Yesterday we rode up to the Rally in the Rockies---spent an enjoyable day. Took a few little excursion rides, bought some shirts, and junk, saw old friends, some we meet up with at several rallies, others just this rally. Every year at this rally I see my old boyfriend....he was so doggone cute in 2nd grade!!! Now we compare pics of our grandbabies, and we always had a beer together. He was is shock at me this year, and I had no beer!!! Today we rode up to the innaugural year of the Sugar Pine Ranch Rally. It was in the mountains, on an actual working ranch, lakes, and mountains, and horses, and cows, and acres and acres of fields, filled with vendors, and beer tents, and live bands---it had a defintive feel of Woodstock. Not that I was there....but the open fields, and music stages....not the drugs around that I hear were there. But it was lots of fun!! Ran into some friends from Flagstaff AZ. Rick and I went to run to a small nearby town to grab something for my eyes---allergies were killer! It was threatening rain, so I grabbed my leather jacket. When we come back he went to help me off with my jacket, and told me we needed to shop, my jacket looked like hell! Such a romantic he is!!! So we shopped the leather vendors, and I got a new leather jacket!!! My old one, is a mans classic leather bike jacket. The new one is made for a woman!! Before I could never get one to fit! This one is cut in a girl shape, hourglass kind of. It is short, with the leather braid to match my chaps. And it is an XL. Which still sounds big, but one of the friends we went up with is a little bitty thing, she wears a size 7 pants, but has some boobs---she had to buy a Large vest, so with her buying that, I felt much, much better about requiring a XL!!! Rick told me repeatedly how good it looked, I felt like it was too snug, and my belly too big to wear the shorter style---but hey he likes it, and it is him I want to look my best for---so I wore it Was a great weekend, and I did really well with my eating until tonight....we were getting ready to leave, and I could not leave without my fix!!! But one single slice of chocolate covered cheesecake was it! Usually several are required to satisfy me!!!! Along with numerous other things bad for me---this time I did really well, til the last minute!!! Gina---I'd love the recipe! All you guys with your stories---mine is pretty lame! I was a thin child, married the first time at 17, I am 5'9" and struggled to get up to 116 pounds to fill out my dress!!! That husband cheated, repeatedly. Had one child with him, lost another...gained about 20 pounds over the time. Married again---#2 was EXTREMELY abusive. He made a comment one time about a fat woman---warning me if I ever looked like that he would leave my ass. I went straight to GNC, and bought a canister of weight gain, used by wrestlers! Seriously---I worked hard to gain weight, and was good at it. I found myself pregnant, and seriously unhappy about it. Strongly considered abortion, but was told I was further along than they thought---I was uninsured, and ultrasound was not cheap. A month later, when I still measured large, they were concerned enough to pay a little more attention, and found I was carrying twins. I was severely depressed...I did not want any children with the man I was married to, he was incredibly mean. He threatened to hurt my family if I did not stay in line, and he proved it a time or 2 with friends, hospitalizing one---horrid man. He hospitalized me twice here as well. Eventually he wanted to move from the area, go where his family was, so mine would not see the babies. I saw it as my only chance to escape harm for my family. At an appointment it was discovered I was carrying in a placenta previa position, which was going to require C-section. He was furious. Financially it was devastating. He left with his step Dad, come home drunk, and proceeded to try to kill me. Perhaps if he hadn't been so drunk he would have succeeded. I lived, my babies did not. I suffered massive guilt, I had never wanted those innocent boys---I grew to love them, but I knew they were headed to a hard life hiding from an abusive father---I would never have let him in their lives. I was working on getting out alive, it may sound trite, but it is 100% seriously said. The mental state I was in, was beyond description. Guilt, anger, despair, more guilt....and the weight come on...with a vengeance! I ate to cover up all the feelings I had no idea how to control, and it had an added benefit, no men looked at me. They were dangerous. I raised my daughter, and ate. Then an old friend and I went out, and we run into Rick and another friend from High School. Which I knew them, they were safe. Unless you count the fact that he stole my heart! And he has yet to return it! He never EVER mentioned to me that the skinny girl from HS got fat. He loved me the way I was. But he sure seems to like me getting thinner, he says that yeah it is sexier, but he loves knowing I am healthier. With the year he has had health wise, it is something he worries about. Next year is my 30th class reunion, and I fully intend on going, and not being fat anymore. OK, I am off to bed, it was a long, fun weekend, and I am tired!!!! Hope Tracy had as much fun as I did!!!! Kat

Yep, I miss Carlene too, and Leatha....even TOM has not made an appearance in a long while. Where'd they all go???? Kat

HI all, just a quick update. Dads visit went as I figured it would. He is scheduled to go back into the hospital on the 17th of Sept., surgery on the 18th. Rick goes down to see his Dr. on the 13th. This is 186 miles one way each time! Anyway---we made the trip today without any trouble. Except, several days ago a police officer out of Albq. was killed while riding in a presidential motorcade. He crashed his motorcycle, and died. Today was his funeral, unknown to us, we ended up on the same frontage road as the funeral procession. OMG I have NEVER seen anything like it! We were feet away from the motorcade carrying his body from the service to the cemetary. There were no less than 200 police cars, motorcycles, ambulances, fire trucks, fire marshals---all with lights, and about every 3rd one with siren going. They passed us flying! I swear they were going about 50 mph, on a road posted 30---they had all side roads and other lanes, like we were in closed off---they just kept coming, and coming. Then we sat for an easy 20 minutes, while personal vehicles drove by. There was a bank on the corner where we were, they all came out and stood with a flag. Every officer that was there, and every law enforcement entity in the state plus several surrounding states, as well as from Washington DC, was in full dress uniform. It was very impressive. Very sad too. Seems like if he was driven in a sane manner, the officer would still be alive. He was attempting to stay ahead of the car driving the President, and he was going over 110 mph. On a motorcycle, that is stupidity. Of course, I guess you don't just tell the President no. Oh well, it was so amazing! Glad Rick was driving, I would have had a heart attack when the first siren sounded so close to me! We are leaving for the rally in the morning. Will check in when I get back. TracyK---and anyone else who missed it. I am compiling a list of our addresses and phone #s and personal email if you want to share any of it. For Christmas card exchange, as well as being able to check in on one another if someone is MIA...Beats sending out the flying monkeys!!! ( a Wizard of Oz referral, I love that movie!) Talk to you all soon!!! Kat

Pamela---did they access your port? Been wondering about you all day!!!! Kat

Hi everyone! Jane I have full intentions of answering your PM---time has just been short! Thank you so much! Today we bucked the hay we spent til after 10 last night baling. Then I helped MIL put up 11 quarts and 8 quart bags of snap peas (aka black eyed peas.) I come home, sorted laundry, and madly tried to get some things done here---then we met our friends for a planning session for the weekend rally, and dinner. When we left dinner, we come back here, and just finished a couple of games of Mexican Train Dominoes. We leave in the morning to take my Dad to Albq. to see the cardiologist concerning his carotid artery bypass. I just don't see them putting him directly into the hospital just before the weekend, especially a holiday weekend. So provided we come home tomorrow night, then we are headed out Saturday morning to a rally about 30 miles away. We aren't taking a camper Tracy!!!! But we have a ceiling fan in our tent---and we ALWAYS have a way to make their coffee...I take juice for myself!!! Saturday night we have tickets to REO Speedwagon, and Smashmouth. We also have tickets my friends DH won to the womens oil & hot cream wrestling Saturday!!! Should be wild---I imagine the guys will love it!!! Have no idea if we will actually go! We will be home Sunday night sometime, we have a full day Monday, getting the front field baled and bucked. Not sure when exactly I will be here, heck it could be in hours...I might find time in the morning, then again I may not get here until Tuesday...so don't worry!!! Denise, any word from DD? Terry--the unfill helping? I think my August total is like a whopping 4-5 pounds. BUT it is lost, so I am gonna be happy with it! I wish I had more drive to lose the rest quicker, but I am just so doggone happy even where I am, I just don't give a hoot about worrying about it! I have been in an incredible mood all day! It may sound totally stupid, and yeah, I truly may have gone off the deep end---but last night, I think I totally fell for my DH again! I cannot really tell you why....lots of little reasons, all running together last night. He had worked all day, but was busting his butt for his Dad, and he kept such a sense of humor about it, and he took such care with him, without making his Dad feel useless. I was angry about having to do the hay, and I knew I had to get up early---but he kept even my attitude up. There was a point I was driving the truck & trailer, and he was bucking bales into the trailer, his Dad was driving the tracter with the baler on it. The back field is by the river, and the big baler will not go through the gate. So we were following the tractor, and he jumped up on the baler, and rode a hay bale as it fed through...and my heart just flipped, all over again. He was no longer an almost 50 year old man, he was the "boy" I fell in love with all those years ago...riding the bales just like he did then....it was so bizarre! I mean I have always loved him, I had never felt any less, so this sudden surge was shocking! It was like such an eye opener, all day I keep seeing things he does everyday, that I had begun to take for granted, and should not have. I have been smiling all day.... Well it is 1:30 in the morning, but I had so much iced tea at dinner---well after, we sat there for a long time!!! And it was regular iced tea so full of caffeine that my body is totally unused to, so I am still awake!!! I need to go try to sleep. DH is in the middle of a movie---guess I am not the only one it affected!!! Anyway---everyone take good care of themselves! I will be back and check in with everyone. I have received a few addresses from some of you guys, if anyone else wants on the list for exchange amongst us---just PM me your info, and I will add it to the list. I don't know when I will send it out, but before Christmas cards!!!! LOL!!! See y'all later!! Kat

Seems to me if you have the emails, and backing them up in hard copy, and keeping a log, are both EXACTLY on target---and excellent advice---but anyway, seems to me, you should be able to take them to the police, if an actual threat of physical harm was made, against your brother, and if nothing else, have a peace bond, or a restraining order put on her, at least against your brother. He may not be afraid of her or her husband, BUT it would be prime evidence for you in the future! If the woman is a true psycho, and she sounds as if she and her husband could both be---you need to document everything. And having police involvement, may not be a bad thing. Pay attention to your surroundings, and be EXTRA careful of what you do and say---put yourself above reproach. green--I think--I may be wrong (it would definitely not be the first time!!!) that maybe Laura read it in an earlier post in the thread...I can't scroll back, I am on quick reply, but I remember reading it too, and thinking at the time that the number was skewed. When I read Laura's post tho, the # seemed familiar to me. Kat

Welcome to Lapband!!!! Every Dr. has his/her own set of pre op diet rules, and well as post op diet rules. They also have different schedules of fills, and how to eat or not eat with a fill. I figured, I hunted down Dr.'s I felt comfortable with for many reasons, I would just trust them and go with it. For the most part, your Dr. sounds most like mine, but I have no real no-no's in food. The only thing he is pretty stringent about that some others tolerate is soda, no carbonation mine says..... They ALL have different EVERYTHING I think!!! And you will run into people who think only their Dr. can be right, just take it with a grain of salt (IF your Dr. allows that) and go on and do what your Dr. says!!!! Hope both you and your sister do well!!! Are you doing ok so far? Kat

Tracy, I am so glad to know your DF knows I am a psycho!!!! TracyK--I go for my scan on the 6th, (wanna come hold my hand???) my mammogram on the 10th, and my gyno visit on the 18th I think they all are, I wrote them on the calendar, and entered them in here to remind me, but off the top of my head, I think those are my days! Kat

Hi everyone---thanks for the good wishes. Tracy either you missed it, or it didn't post---I never checked to be honest!!! I did go to the Dr. He is referring me to a neurosurgeon, mine has left. I am having a month full of tests that I put off all year long! I am having the new bone scan done....hate, hate HATE that! But oh well! Then I am getting my mammogram done. Then my girly appointment. I don't have to do much other than he orders certain blood work to be done, and he does the world tour like there is anything left in there to look at???? Rick was totally freaking out, as my PCP says he feels the tumor in my mastoid has grown. I do not agree. I think it feels different due to the weight loss. Rick does not handle it well! I truly do not feel especially concerned with it, my biggest concern is the scan itself. In order to get the scan of the mastoid (which is located behind your ear, towards the base of your skull), they bring the scanning machine down and rest it right at my head, and it wigs me out! I went into detail on the other post, about puking on a tech!!! Hoping not to have a repeat, I plan on self medicating before the test! When the scans always come back before, they were in film form, and I got a copy too. Backtrack----to do the bone scan, I go in, and they inject me intraveiniously with radioactive isotopes, then I have to drink 36 ounces or more of Fluid within 2 hours and come back for the scan, so the contrast of the isotopes is spread through the body. On the films I get, you see the bright glow of both tumors, as well as the injection site in my arm, and my bladder, where it pools as you pee it out of your body! Also on the films you can see a shadowy form on them of my fat blob body lying on the table. I was excited about seeing how my body compared, and they no longer develop onto films, it is all computerized. . . dangit! I wonder if my band will show? Terry, I am glad you did not wait any longer for the slight unfill. Restriction is fine, but not THAT tight!!! Ms Jen---sorry about DH, I DO know how he feels! Denise--glad you are hanging in there girl. No ta ta reference meant there!!! Mine are not changing a lot. Band size of my bra has dropped considerably, from a 46/48 to a 38/ 40 depending on the style. The cup size, not changed so much. Still a DD. Looking more like a DD too I might add, since they no longer just continue on into one giant bubble including my belly!!! I am thinking when I go next week to get my Drivers License renewed, I may go braless---let the weight of them pull all the wrinkles out of my face for the close up picture!!! Then again, I'd hate to embarass myself by tripping on one and falling! :girl_hug: Pamela, glad you come to see us from school!!! Makes me feel so important!!!! TracyK--whats shakin' girl? Judy---Hope you just love your trip!!! My folks went, and have yet to quit talking about it!!! Enjoy! Jenn--might be time to have the foot looked at...I know it is not cheap, but hey you only have the 2---need to take care of it!! Met up with my folks in town and we all had lunch together. Kinsey and I always share lunch, and she thinks that is such fun, she always asks me "Ganny you want this?" If I say no then she will eat it. Well her Mama is here to get her, so I will catch y'all later! Kat

Hi Susan--it's good to see you again! My DH went through something pretty similar not too long ago, and he isn't even banded! But every morning he would have trouble getting food fully swallowed. He said it felt like it would stick, or only get part way down into his throat, and he would feel the need to throw up. I had to heimlich him 3 times, and so did a guy at work, this was not in his head!!! Last October, he had a massive GI bleed caused by some mismanaged coumadin (blood thinner) therapy, following his valve surgery and other heart repair they did. During the efforts to save his life during this bleed---they used inflated balloons, one in his stomach, and one in his esophagus, as he tore the esophagus bilaterally where it connects into the stomach. This is a tried method for the most part, as these bleeds are pretty common among bulemics, and alcoholics--both groups vomit frequently. But Ricks problem came in the fact that he was OD'd on blood thinners as well. So the balloons that were designed to be in the esophagus for no more than 6 hours, were in him for days on end. They did the job though, even though they told me he would likely expire (I now hte that word!) in the next 10-15 minutes---he pulled through! So when months later he suddenly had trouble EVERY day with swallowing, and keeping food down, they thought there was motility damage to the esophagus. But looking at it, required putting a camera down there, and they could not take that chance!!! SO....and I really DO have a possible suggestion in all of this!!! We ended up at our internist, and he said he thought his problem may be due to acid reflux. Rick nixed that idea, he never has any backwash or anything---but the Dr. insisted he try the meds and see if it would ease the swallowing problem. He had him get Prilosec OTC-since Rick was adamant that was not the problem, he suggested an OTC as opposed to a scrip!!! Within a few days Rick was swallowing without issue! I have never had to do the Heimlich on him since. So along with taking a drink of the warm liquid in case it is a form of first bite syndrome, maybe try some Prilosec, and see if your esophagus is so irritated early in the day, that it is swollen, therefore not having proper motility. By evening Rick could eat, the Dr. said he had been upright, and swallowing saliva, and other liquids all day, and would ease the irritation, only to have it re-irritate each night. Might be an inexpensive thing to try. He never thought he had any type of reflux---he is 100% believer now!!! Good Luck Susan, it is good to have you back around!!! Kat

Hi Lindsay, me again!! I hate to be the one to break it to you, but there is no rhyme nor reason why some of us lose our hair and others do not. The Protein you are taking in, will help with your hunger, and your overall energy level, as well as speed your healing, it will not however save your hair. I maintained high protein levels pre op, as well as post op, and had massive hair loss. It did stop, and is regrowing, so it is not permanant in most cases. Find a good shampoo and conditioner, many suggest Nioxin based ones. Be sure to chew a GOOD multi Vitamin each day when you are released to do so. Try to keep your calorie count up into the healthy range, your weight loss may be a bit slower, but some think it is the drastic diet changes that cause the hair loss. By best advice for the hair issue is to relax...if it is going to happen, it is going to happen, and stress will only make it worse! I had a massively stressful year, combined with a history of total hair loss due to chemo, so I believe that those things combined with bad diet habits for awhile (living on hospital vending machines for food), caused my hair loss to be severe. There are several threads out there already dealing with hair loss, you might gain some insight from some of them. Hang in there, we all survived it!!! Kat

PB stands for Productive Burp. It is a bandster form of throwing up basically. When we overeat seriously, or eat too big of a bite to pass through the narrowed opening caused by the band...food cannot pass, therefore there is only one way for it to go---up and out! Usually prior to a PB--you will "slime" which is the bodies way of trying to help. Your body begins producing huge amounts of thick gooey saliva, trying to help slick up and slide whatever is stuck on through. The problem is our stomachs are so small, it overfills us---and often brings on the PB unless you spit out all the slime---pretty gross, and not something that should happen often. I am 16 months out, and have PB'd twice, nothign serious either time. The biggest difference in PBing and throwing up is that there is nothing except the saliva and food---there is no stomach acids involved. And it is usually kind of painful in my opinion, as we try to avoid throwing up, it is not the best thing for a band. A question ask to learn is never ignorant!!!! Welcome to LBT!!! Look around and ask anything you wonder about! Kat

Hi all-- Cindy, when I do the individual freezing, I usually just use a double zip lock bag, so I can get in and out of it easily. But for things like the green Beans Betty told me how to do etc, I use my food saver all the time! I use it for leftovers---then I can just pop them into Ricks lunch, or into our cooler when we go camping. I buy meat in the big Value Packs, and break it down, into smaller packages. With them, I actually lay them all out, pierce them with a fork, mix up my marinade, and put 2 steaks to a package, (Rick eats one, I eat part of one, and make him a sandwich out of the other part for work the next day!!!) pour in the marinade, and seal...by the time they are thawed they are ready! When the apples on the tree are ready to freeze, I will do the same with them, add the butter, cinnamon, and a bit of flour to the bag, and seal. Ready to thaw, mix a bit,a nd dump in a pie crust. With our green chile we put up. I do half of it whole but cleaned and peeled, and the other half I will clean and dice before freezing, then when I freeze it, I freeze it in the wide bag, and flatten it out, so when I need some, all I have to do is pop it against the edge of the counter, and it breaks off a section, then I just seal it again and put it back in the freezer. Back when I froze it in chunks, you had to thaw the whole thing to use it. Plus using wide bags, and freezing things flattened out, you can store it in less space, and it stays more organized on the shelf. I prefer taking a day to do the work, then when I am in a rush cooking, most of the tedious work is done! We also used the food saver once to make these ice packs, we used them for a long time too!!! You fill a food saver bag with some Water, and freeze it--we stood it up in a bowl-because the top is still open. When it is froze solid, you pour in half a cup or so of rubbing alcohol. With the frozen ice, it allows you to sit the bag in a way that the liquid does not all run out---and then seal. When the ice thaws, it them mixes with the alcohol, and will never freeze solid again---it remains fairly flexible, and can be ice cold in the freezer for use. We eventually ended up sending them all off with kids, and friends---hadn't thought about making more, until telling you!!!! With my daredevil grandkids, I better make some more!!! Well girls I went to the Dr. yesterday, my DH was having a conniption fit. I have had a headache for several days. I attribute it to sinus issues. But I do have a tumor in my mastoid, also one in my fibula, they have been there for many years now, but I have a yearly bone scan to keep them monitored, and see if more ever develop. They were discovered when they did my work up following my cancer diagnosis. They are not real serious---more than a simple bone dysplasia, but not malignant at the last biopsy, and there has never been a change in them through the last 5 years. My scan was due several months ago, but with the year we had with Ricks health, and no obvious changes I put it off, as well as my mammogram, and all the other fun checks. Not really intentionally, but time just kept going by.... Then I was whining for several days about the headache, and Rick freaked out when he found out I missed my scan. So I went to the Dr. yesterday. He thinks the tumor in the mastoid feels as though it may have grown. I don't agree. It sounds silly---but I swear it is weight loss!!! Anyway...I now am scheduled for my bone scan on the 6th, mammogram on the 10th, and yearly physical on the 18th! Doesn't that sound like a fun month to everyone!!! The bone scan is NOT my favorite thing. The body scan is not an issue. When they bring that monster ass machine down onto my head, it IS an issue. I had them so frequently in the begining, and one woman, Julie, did them always, she would tell me when it was coming down, and when it was going to touch me, and would tell me every step of the scan, count it down, etc. Then time before last another lady did it. I ask her if she was going to warn me when it was coming down. I am on my side, and cannot see anything other than the side arm of this beast machine. Overall the scanner part is really not that huge, but when it is pressing on your head---it seems gargantuan! She kinda sighed and said yes she would tell me. The way she said it, I mistakenly assumed that the way Julie did it was standard, and was lying there, she told me "coming down" and it was there immediately, pushing HARD on my head. MY claustrophobia kicked in--I pulled out from under it (scraped the hide off my head doing so!), tried to get up---keep in mind I am on a table about a foot wide, and I am at my heaviest, and my feet are taped together to keep them upright and still. I managed to heave myself into a sitting position---this is all happening in nanoseconds, I am in full panic mode, and hyperventilating---and I puked all over her legs and feet! So.....it took serious effort to get me back last year, as well as a good dose of Verced! This year, it is a new neurosurgeon, my old one left, and she does not prescribe relaxants unless she sees you first, and there is no appointment open with her until October. So....I am going to self medicate...and try to get the scan done so she will have all the results when I see her in October. For the scan, I go it, and they start inject radioactive isotopes interveiniously, and I leave for 2 hours, over which time I have to drink minimally 36 ounces...then the contrasting isotopes, are spread throughout the body, and they can detect if there are new hot spots, and how the already noted hotspots react to them. In the film---I could see the tumors, as well as the injection site, and my bladder---all full of the glowing junk---but you could see my fat blob body in pale outline, I was excited to see it this time, and found out it will all be on the computer only, I will not have films to compare myself...dangit! Anyway----I come home, with my head continuing to pound---and said to heck with it, I dug into the medicine cabinet for the only thing that EVER took these sinus headaches away, and come out with a box of Advil Cold & Sinus. Just before dinner, when I knew I would have food in my belly, I took one...it passed without issue, and lo and behold----no headache! No one ever listens to me!!!! I am NOT worried over this testing. They have biopsied my leg 2 times, never the mastoid, due to the tissue make up of the mastoid, sometimes disturbing it causes over growth of the honeycomb type of bone tissue it is made of. So while it is not changing they have left it alone. If ever this causes me problems, or if they were to end up keeping me in the hospital with issues over it, I will have DH, or DD or someone come in and let everyone know. Promise. Cindy, your Dads gift sounds great! I bought my girls birthday gifts Monday. Lord of the Dance is coming, right between their birthdays in October and November....so that is what they are getting. Amanda will love it--without any question. I am hoping Abbey will too. Well I have a list of things to do today, none of which I am wanting to do----oil changed in the van, to take my Dad to ABQ Friday...banking, laundry, sorting things to pack if we get to go camp at the rally Sat. & Sun. Lotsa fun!!! Eileenie, I am glad to see you pop in---just like old times!!! Betty---I printed the recipe--going to try that. I am usually not a big eggplant fan, but DH likes it....so we are going to try it!!! So I better get busy, or another day will go by with me not getting these things done!!!! TTYL Kat

Hi Crew- Well the headache....I am being referred once again to a new neurosurgeon---the one who has followed the tumor, is no longer here. My Dr. seems to think there may be some size change. Which may be causing pressure. My ear has ached some, and that is troublesome he said. I am not worried. I am scheduled for a new bone scan the first part of next month. They are not a big deal, should be much easier, I will fit on that skinny little table much easier!!! I had one woman who did not warn me when the machine was approaching my head, and she lowered it HARD on my head, I wrenched myself out of that damn thing sat straight up, and puked all over her pants and shoes! I am somewhat claustrophobic anyway. When they do the bone scans, I go in, and they inject me with the radioactive isotopes, then I leave, and drink 36+ ounces of fluid, and then go back (wondering if that will be a problem for me, I don't think so) and they put me on the table and the machine moves over me slowly...I do this self relaxation thing, and lie there with my eyes closed. Then they do my head---and I am in serious discomfort--mentally. They bring the thing down soooooo friggin close. It is big, it could crush your head easy! Then they roll me to my side, and bring it down as close as possible. Well Julie had always done it, I didn't know she did it any different than another tech, she always counted it down for me. Told me when she was at the closest, and would talk me through it. So this new woman is doing it, and she tells me to roll over, and I ask her, will you let me know when it is coming down, she says yes and sighs. I should have known then! Instead, she says "coming down" I am waiting, Julie always brought it down slow. All of a sudden this heavy weight hits my temple and is pushing, I thought it was going to crush me! I know that is not practical thinking, but there is no practical in my fears! I yanked my head out, slid out from under the machine, tried to sit up (my feet are taped together to keep them upright and still)---I just totally freaked out, without warning I was throwing up, I was scared beyond control! I was hyperventilating! It was not pretty!!! I ask for Julie from that point on. I have no idea if she is still there! I will be VERY demanding on how it is done though!!!! I am also going into these with less fear, before I knew I was dealing with cancer, and was afraid for my life literally---not so now. Meanwhile, I come home, dug through the medicine cabinet, found some Advil Cold & Sinus, and took it---hoping it would pass ok---it did, headache eased. So...it was time for a follow up anyway---but boy it has my DH agitated to no end. Had a great lunch with my friend. Was a nice day. Denise, I know you hate it, but I do agree with your Dr. My SIL had to be unfilled, and then when they took her back to her previous level it was still too tight. It took some work, but they got her to a good level, she has lost all her weight plus several pounds. I am not at goal---a fact my MIL loves pointing out!!! She even told me the girls (my nieces who were banded the first of this month) might beat me to goal. She acts like I have another hundred to lose, I get paranoid when she does that, like I am not seeing myself like I really am.... oh well. Well, girls, I am off to bed. Will check with y'all in the morning. Rick is stressing seriously---better try to settle him down over this! Talk to ya tomorrow! Kat

Terry---- You know my friend, we are listening, and understand the stresses involved in quitting the smoking thing. And we understand the back---btw---the 2 CAN be connected!!! The release of toxins can be seriously painful I am told! BUT....when you are better we will be riding your a$$ until you are back to busting it!!!! It's ok, recognizing the problem is half way to conquering it---you know you need to be working out, and you will be again as soon as your body is able. You will do it just to test yourself and see how your endurance improves. You keep me in line---you think I will do less for you??? Puuhhhleeeze!!!!!! Kat

I was banded in April of 06. I had my first fill of 1.25cc in June of 06. I got minor restriction for a short time with that fill. I had a second fill of only .50cc a month later, in July of 06. I got excellent restriction from that minor tweak...and have worked off of that fill ever since. That has been over a year ago. I don't plan on having another fill any time soon---hoping to finish off and maintain at this fill level. I am able to eat anything, just in smaller amounts. When I only got a little restriction off of the first, I would never have believed a 1/2 cc would have made any difference at all---it DID!!! Kat

If you will go to the home page and click on the General Lap Band Discussions, the Before and After thread is the first thread listed---just click it and start being inspired!!! Welcome to LBT!! Kat

I too can eat pretty much anything. There are some days the band seems to reject something for some unknown reason, but the next time it is fine. I had a problem with bread for a short time following my 2nd fill, since then, I have not had a consistent problem with any foods. All things in moderation---and eaten with bandster rules in mind, it all does pretty good. Kat

But certainly do feel free to be creative about finding ways to drive the whore around the twist, sez Green. It's intellectually stimulating, it's a way of taking back control, and it's fun. Just remember to stay inside the law and to retain your dignity. Your children need their mother and you need your self-respect. Missed part of the quote I wanted----the first part of this---I loved it!!!! Kat

Could not have said it better myself!!!! WoooHooo---relieve some of your tension with revenge!!! Back towards the begining of this thread, someone, it may have been green, maybe BJean, not sure, mentioned if he was not dissing her then you could be confident he would not do that to you either. Makes me think, that is your best info for the fight you are in. While she manipulates, and makes wildly differing demands from what she hooked him with, you make your demands known....to be faithful, a good husband and father, to attend counceling...etc...serious, necessary demands. Either he keeps them, or it is over. No wild emotions, no theatrics. The same stable, loving woman he married, the same good mother to his children. Show him there are differences in the 2 of you besides the ones between the sheets. Make him use the head on his shoulders. It is my opinion that while he has made some serious mistakes, and changed to a point through this, he has not changed 100%. The stable best friend is there....wanting back what he had. He needs to see it there, just beyond reach...and know it CAN be his again...when he works hard enough to attain it. I do not mean make him jump through silly hoops---that sounds like her game. I mean, let him know what exactly it will take to be a family again, and let him either do the work, or make the walk. YOU and your children are worth that---he has a past with you, he has extended family with you---he needs to see what exactly he stands to lose. Have you discussed property division with him? How he will be expected to help financially if he finds the wild life too appealling? Has he fully faced the consequences of this do you think, or is he just wanting to wait it out, and let the chips fall where they may? Does he know you have read the email? Good for you----keep informed of it all! And I would let her know I do read them....well maybe not, then she might temper what she says.....hmmmmm Kat

Deb, my best friend is from Lubbock, and her entire family is still there. We use Lubbock as the half way point to our place in TX. Often we drop her there, go on to our place, and pick her up on our way back, or pick up her Mom to come visit, or return her following a visit. We hit the loop and go off towards Slaton/Post--to head on to central Tx to our place. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE hearing about long term bandsters who have no issues, and have maintained weight loss!!! Congrats!!! And thanks so much for the inspiration to do the same! I was surprised to find I hadn't shrunk, I felt like surely I had, that all that weight had drug me downward---but seems I am as tall as ever! My former MIL was barely 5 foot, and she was always calling me to get something from an upper shelf, in a house obviously built for someone my height!!! One day after asking for 2-3 different things be reached for her, she told me "Honey next time you drop something, you call me!" I need her now, lately I am a total clutz, I drop everything, it is getting to the point, I am going to pick it up, throw it down and get it over with, so I can get on with things!!! I bet the weight loss helps your back. I have a herniation of L-4, L-5, at an S-1 station....and have not had my back go out in almost a year now!!! Weight loss has helped all my joints....lol, imagine that the Dr.'s were right all these years!!!! Kat