Kat817

BJean---he was a jerk, and continues to be a jerk. He currently lives with a former friend of mine, and claims multiple girlfriends on the side. I cannot count the number of times, he has contacted me and tried to tell me what a mistake he made! He would not have changed, even if I had fallen for the line one of those times! He has so many problems!! He actually bragged to my DD when she was in High School, and had been to his house with friends of hers and her brothers (1/2 brother technically---he is just over a year younger than she is) that in High School they called him Doc, because he had every kind of drug available, and if he didn't he could get it. He bragged this up, like it was something very cool. Now I dated him from his sophmore year until he quit school as a senior---and aside from occasionally smoking some pot....he did not do drugs, let alone sell them....and to a point of being called Doc??? puhleeze! Not to mention even if it had been true---telling that to teenagers? The man is mentally unstable, he is a serious alcoholic, as is the woman he lives with now. She says she lets him stay because she knows he is faithful....says he can't get it up anymore!!! Sorry I have to laugh over it! Wonder who is fooling who? On second thought, who really cares!!! It is never fun to live through marital problems. At the time they are all consuming. I wish there was a way to help the OP get through the tough times ahead....just know we are here! And BJean, some days I do feel strong, and occasionally even mildly intelligent---others, I still question my own judgement! I went from this moron to another even worse. WAAAAY worse! Then I took a total break, quit dating, and finally turned to a life long friend---and found out what love and marriage really were all about! Kat

Our insurance wants us to do the wellness study too. They got my DH on the phone, and he agreed, now they will call him every 2 weeks, and ask him a bazillion questions! They ask him all kinds of things, that I personally did not see the revelance to his health---but he agreed...so he gets to talk to them! With the year he had health wise, they may be getting more than they bargained for with him!!!! Kat

Hope your nausea is better Tracy. This is going to sound really wierd, but was your stomach rolling, or was the gagging more from the throat? I once ate something that I thought must have been bad, because I got sick at my stomach from it, and it only eased if I slowly sipped or snacked. In the end, I think I was actually over full, and it was from the esophagus area, and I was feeling the nausea from that. When I caught the stomach virus from Kinsey the feeling was totally different, it was low in the stomach itself, and I was on the verge of vomiting before I even knew what hit me! Hope you feel much better!!! I too like Househuntress really try to get my meals is with mostly protein, followed with veggies, and only a few nibbles of the carbs, mostly for flavor enhancement! Breakfast has almost always hit me that way! I often will snack for breakfast on a leftover piece of sausage or something of that nature. My DH loves sausage, he likes it hot with breakfast, and cold for snacking, so I keep some cooked up, and it is one of the stand bys I use for breakfast or a quick snack. I don't overdo it, because I know there are tons of nitrates, and it is not the best for me! But my cholesterol is down again! Each time I donate blood now they do a cholesterol test, and I can check it online. My Dr. is going to be so happy!!! I had popped over 200 pre banding...now it is down 70 points with no drugs! My usual for breakfast is yogurt---with some granola stirred in. My days have been kinda crazy with all the work we have been doing we have been eating out a lot!!! Yesterday lets see.... BREAKFAST--yogurt--black cherry with granola I ate about 2/3 of the container with about 1/4 cup if that much granola---DH finished it for me! SNACK--a couple of bites of a nectarine while we loaded wood, it didn't feel like it wanted to go down, so I didn't push it. LUNCH--2 taquitas with salsa SNACK--handful of roasted smoked almonds. I know the sodium is out of this world---but they were good!!!! SUPPER--we went to Chilis---I had the childrens chicken crispers and loaded mashed potatoes. I ate 1 1/2 strips of chicken with ranch dressing, and about 3 bites of the potatoes. I heated the leftovers for lunch today and Kinsey and I shared them! For breakfast this morning I had a scrambled egg with green chile, and cheese. The leftovers for lunch, I snacked on half a banana, and some cubed cheddar cheese. I have a couple of rib eyes we are grilling tonight. I will cook some new potatoes, and will likely have some mushrooms to go over the steaks. I can usually avoid the potatoes, but these little new ones from my inlaws garden, may be hard to say no to!!! I also drink tons---lots of tea. I brew my own using decaffeinated tea bags, and sweeten it with sweet & low. I know it isn't the best for me either---but since it is my biggest vice at this point, I am not ready to change!!! When I don't drink enough, I don't lose a thing! I need to weigh---I have not done so in several days---will check it in the morning. I have sore muscles, in my case, that usually means, I will be up a pound or 2, from fluid retention in the muscles, and believe me I have used muscles lately I never knew I had!!! I know I told Rick next vacation we leave town!!! It sounds weird because it was tons of work, but I really enjoy working with him that way, it keeps us close. Well my laundry needs changed out, I have enough dirty clothes to cloth a small nation. But I had a NSV this morning sorting clothes, I picked up a shirt and wondered when my DD left it there, and as I turned it right side out, I realized it was my shirt---I just wore it 2 days ago! It looked so small, I never thought for a second it was mine!!! woohooo it is! And I just wore it so I know it fits me!!! LOVE it!!! TTYL Kat I usually do better, but this week is not a good example!!!

If this other woman had been satisfied being the other woman---our OP would not know, and perhaps the other woman would have helped her DH out of the mental funk he was in or whatever. BUT she come after him from the get go! She wanted him...and she had him, and is now working on keeping him. I have lived this situation out in person! I tried to get past the adultery, and felt I could get on with our lives from that point. Then come the child---the one in my life, was and is a real child, obviously his, (he and my DD look alike!) Then things changed yet again---he wanted to be involved in the childs life, the woman refused an abortion, to his delight---was my suggestion! He wanted us to adopt and raise the child, she refused. Then he finally admitted to what he really wanted, he want us both he said. Finally.....honesty. Not something I was ok with, but honesty! At one point I told him, I just didn't get it, when this girl first started working for them, he made fun of her for being dirty, and she never shaved her legs or armpits, and he was grossed out, and from that he went to being intimate with her??? His reply? That the 2 of us are like apples and oranges, very different, but he likes them both, and was not willing to say he would never want to eat oranges or apples again, he wanted a balanced diet. At the time it was devastating, now it strikes me as a bit comical!!! I looked into my future and realized this was not a one time thing, either I accepted an open marriage, and all that that could entail, or I needed to get out. We divorced...after he fought it every way possible for the next 3 years! He had 3 kids besides ours together by that time! I fully believe there is a difference in how and why men have sex outside of marriage, as there is with women. The OP's situation was just like a serious deja`vu thing!!! My DH's former wife screwed around on him with his "best friend". She actually left he and the kids to go with the guy. We were very open and honest that the cheating was something that was a deal breaker. In the end, we are very well suited to one another, have a wonderful sex life with one another, and personally I have no desire to go elsewhere, and sincerely hope he feels the same. Were he to stray---and it be a sex only thing. As an example, you see lots of movies, with the guys being drunk at a bachelor party, and landing in bed with someone. There are no whispered words--at least none he is likely to remember---let alone keep! Something of that nature I would entertain the idea of working through. Someone, he snuck around to meet, or bought things for, or shared an emotional bond with as opposed to strictly the physical bond....that I would not even consider living through again. At 20 something it was a blow to my likley oversized ego of the age---now, my ego could not take the beating. While I understand, and in theory agree with much of your post green, I know my own heart to be to fragile to take it again. At one time in my past, I found I was in fact the other woman. I had no idea he was married, we had dated for 2 months, and he took me out of town, and he kept using the pay phone rather than the room phone, and my gut went uh-oh! Sure enough, I found out he was married. I ended it, but I never EVER would have said anything to the wife. I think working through it with a therapist, not taking the other woman at her word...insisting on testing--both STD, and eventually paternity---is definitely called for. Back in the day I went through it, AIDS was just presenting itself, and Maury didn't have "Who's your Daddy?" shows on every other day. Paternity testing was an expensive, and seldom done test. In relating my experience, I did not mean to encourage the OP to divorce her DH. I just wanted to loan her some strength, and let her know one way or another she will survive this, and be stronger for it. I too appreciate knowing we can count on you for an honest, and well thought out response to any situation green. I do look forward to your posts, they often times make me think things through a little more thoroughly! Kat

The dangers you put not just your band health in, but also your general health, due to being over filled, are too numerous to mention. You are suffering from malnutrition when you do not eat, and especially when you do not even drink. You are not simply losing weight. You are losing muscle mass. The very thing that will help you lose weight in the future. You are not learning any beneficial eating methods for future maintenance. These things you are doing to yourself, and we cannot do anything to help you, nor can your Dr. if you choose to remain overfilled. However, it does set wrong with me for this reason....when (not if but when) you DO have detrimental effects from the over filled band, it goes down as a band statistic. Therefore giving future banders an unfair view of the band and its possible complications. Your Dr. sees it as a complication, and he has not even had a chance to work with you to get to a proper fill. Your actions cast an unfair light on both your Dr. and the band in general. Your health WILL suffer from not eating and drinking. Everyone who knows you have the band, will see you looking pale, and being weak, and blame the band. The band is not at fault! It needs to be adjusted properly. The Dr. has no way of seeing if the fill is going to be right for you or not, he depends on you and he/she working together. Sometimes it does take a few days for a fill to kick in or to relax, but to rely on an overfill to lose the weight is setting yourself up for problems, and IMHO a disservice to all of us bandsters, the band Dr. and those researching the band itself. I wish you luck, and hope you decide to see the Dr. Kat I understand you want to lose weight, we all do, and did, or we would not have been banded. But what you are doing now is as unhealthy as if you had become bulemic.

Hey Girls!!! I have survived the week---omg, I am so tired, and so sore, I can hardly move! Monday, we mixed and poured a 4 foot by 30 foot section of cement, about 6-8 inches deep. To do that it takes 800 pounds of cement mix, and over 1 ton (yep 2000 pounds) of sand and gravel, as well as all the water. Tuesday we hauled a truck and trailer load of firewood in for my parents. It was in the neighborhood of 2 cords. Wednesday we poured another slab of cement, same dimensions as above. I move all of that a can at a time!!!! Exercise done!!! Thursday, we repeated Tuesdays wood hauling only this truck/trailer went to my inlaws, and I unloaded most of it, while Rick dealt with a problem bull. Friday was my birthday, and we got the hell out of town!!! WE rode to Colorado with our friends,and camped out at a lake up there, and went to a nice dinner, then Saturday night we hit the casino, I come out $187.00 ahead, subtracting the $13.00 I spent getting there!!! We hung out at camp, and played some dominoes, had some serious down time!!! We took some scenic rides, got some amazing pictures of elk---they are getting ready to mate, and the bulls were bugleing, and banging against one another--very cool!! We come home Sunday, went to a family dinner---for all of us with August birthdays, we had a big Navajo taco dinner. They are made with fry bread....similar to a deep fried tortilla, a bit heavier. Smothered with chili beans, lettuce, onions, tomato, sour cream, guacamole. I had a wedge about 2 inches by 3 inches. Others were eating plates full---the fry bread is about the size of a plate---I used to do the same!!! Today we were back at it---we hauled in another 2-21/2 cords of firewood, this is for us. So when we got it home, we split it and stacked it in our new (and fully cemented) woodshed!!! Tomorrow is Ricks last day off...we were supposed to take our DIL to Albuquerque to the airport, she is flying to Tuscon to see her Granndma/Mom---technically her Gma, but she was raised by her so considers her Mom. Our son is in Houston at a work seminar for 2 weeks, and she refused to stay home alone, so is going to visit at the same time, which will work out well. But she decided to put her car in the long term parking so she will have it when she gets back. I have to admit, I am very glad!!! I was not thrilled with going! Sara---your pics look wonderful! Were you nervous to post them? I was! I loved reading about all of your NSV's---I am so glad you guys are hanging in there---it will happen for all of you! I know it!!! Terry--- I quit smoking on April 1st, 1991. I began when I was 15. Smoked for 15 years---and decided as aNew Years resolution to quit. I had read that you pick a day and tell everyone, then do it. So I picked April 1st. In the back of my mind, I knew if I wimped out, I could say it was an April Fools joke!!! Then my DD come home and told me her Dad said I would never be able to quit. Told her I complained too much about quitting when I was PG with her! That was it, I HAD to quit, I credit him with giving me the gumption needed to really quit. Smoked my last one, at 11:58 PM the night before! Cold Turkey! My best friend (the one we bike with) quit with me, and she only made it 3 days---she too is now taking the Chantix, and had her last cigarette on last Thursday. This was the first time we rode anywhere and did not have to wait while Becky smoked! My DD also quit using Chantix. It worked for her! She said she had some really wierd dreams, but no issue with weight gain. Becky said she is having problems with constipation, and digestive issues. But that is temporary! It was not easy, but so worth it!!! I quit back when they were a buck and a quarter a pack---they are truly outrageous now!!! Good Luck, we will understand a bit of grouchiness, and whining---we will support you fully!!! Tracy glad you are back---thanks for noticing all the new avatars!! I was a nervous wreck while Terry helped me post my new pics!!! How are wedding plans going??? Well girls, Rick has patiently waited to check his ebay things, so guess I will let him have the computer. DD has my laptop---so we are sharing!!! Will talk to you all soon---Terry thanks for missing me girl--you are so sweet!!! Kat

Ok, let me try to let you know how things are for me at least. I do eat more than many others do, and I have taken longer to lose my weight than some others do as well. I have a different outlook than some. I do have a goal, I do want to lose all of my weight...I just do not want to be deprived...that is when I lose it mentally! I also want to have a normal life. I want to live and eat today the way I hope to do for the remaider of my life. Have I changed how I eat? Yes Have I changed what I eat? Yes somewhat Have I totally eliminated foods from my diet? No Do I eat only 3-4 bites per meal? No Do I feel deprived or like I am on a constant diet? No I feel very successful in the goals I set for myself, and the direction my banded life has taken. Right now you are in what is commonly referred to around here as Bandster Hell, you have a non working band in place! It is like buying a new car, and having no gas to go anywhere in it! It takes lots of willpower (or as some call it---won't power). The liquid phase of post op is VERY important, and will set the tone for your band health it is believed. The band has to be allowed to heal, and begin growing scar tissue to hold it in a proper place. It cannot do that if the stomach is attempting to digest food. It needs to allow those inside stitches to heal, and remember they are in a moist environment. Do whatever it takes, to stick to the liquids---if you have to drink more often, then do it, just don't try to eat too soon! Once you begin to eat again, and can start your fill process, then it is up to you and your Dr. to decide how much restriction you want. My Dr. would have me much tighter than I choose to be. He believes as was told to you in your seminar that a few ounces is ideal---I do not. I do not believe I can eat in a healthy manner with that small amount of food. I purposely do not have my band as tight as many choose to have theirs. I am tight enough, I do not feel hunger, but I can and often do eat more than I probably should!!! Even with that, I still only eat a fraction of what I used to eat pre banding! I would say that the 3/4 to 1 1/2 cups per meal is closest to my average---I don't know I don't measure! For Breakfast I usually have a container of yogurt with some granola stirred in. Most mornings I can finish most of it, but seldom all of it. For lunch I usually eat left overs!!! But as an example today I had 2 taquitos, with salsa. I snacked on some almonds while working outside hauling wood with my DH. For dinner we went out, and I ordered a childrens portion of chicken crispers, with loaded mashed potatoes. I ate 1 full strip of chicken, and about half of another, and had about 4 bites of the potatoes. I had ranch dressing with my chicken. I was full, and brought home the other half---will have it for lunch tomorrow! I take smaller bites than I ever did before, and I have just grown accustomed to chewing VERY well. I often lay my fork down, and just wait to see how I feel. If you really pay attention to your body, you often find you have signals to alert you to fullness, that you might not have ever recognized. IN my case, when I am getting to the point of being full, my nose gets sniffly!!! If I eat more, I will get the hiccups, and if I foolishly eat more, it is a miserable time, with a threaten of a PB. Once I have set my fork down, if I feel I want and can handle more, I will try another bite. It is not a concentrated thing anymore, it is just how I eat. I eat slower, than my DH of course, but by the time he finishes his meal, and eats ALL of it!! I am finished with the portion of mine I am able to eat, and no one is waiting for anyone...it works out very well. I am not a perfect bandster, I eat carbs, and sweets...I just eat a lot less of them, and I do exercise, but I am not extreme with it either. I want to feel "normal". And at this point I do! You will find yourself going through times you really want to be tight, and work out hard, to watch the weight really drop fast, and other times, you find yourself, wanting to slow down and back off a bit, it is all ok. This is YOUR journey! And while we all look forward to the final goal accomplished feeling, don't forget to enjoy the experience as you get there. Take lots of pictures, and measurements, they will give you encouragement, when you hit a plateau---we all hit them. And hang out with us here---we will do our best to support you through it all!!! If you have specific questions I missed, just let me know!!! Kat

hi nuddybuddy---sorry,I am just now getting this email reminder of your post. My DH and I just got back from a quick get away! I will check in tomorrow, and answer your questions---promise!!! PM me if you need specifics. I wasn't ignoring you! Kat

While I totally agree that too many students and parents do not take responsibility towards the childs education, the problem is not one sided. My DD was one of the VERY prepared ones, she was compulsively organized....a gene that I am not sure where it originated!!! Wasn't from me, and her Father---ridiculous thought!!! Early on in 2nd grade I think it was I was testing her on her spelling, and I had her spell something, and she messed it up, I told her no it was such and such a way, and she argues with me! She pulls her paper out of her backpack, and there on her pretest (yep---a chance to see how they would do before really having a test!) was the word, spelled wrong, and not marked as wrong. I told her we could look it up in the dictionary, it was not right, and as I looked over her paper, there were several grading mistakes, when questioned about it...the teacher had never even seen the paper she was using to study---they passed it to the person behind them to grade. So here is my child, studying intently on a paper graded poorly---and studying the words, spelled wrong, she will miss them on the big test...why? She studied them wrong. Because the teacher did not take any time to even look at them. She does not have a book, there are not enough for everyone, so they must stay at school---thus the pre test, so they have a study sheet...for what it was worth! Point being---you can have a good student, doing good work as far as they know! If I had not corrected the paper---who would have suffered? She would have...through really no fault of her own! Just as there are good students, and bad, and focused students and lazy ones...there are just the same in teachers, through the years of my kids in school we have met all kinds! I DID know Benjamin Franklin was not a president! Whew! Kat

It for me was just another habit to break, and get used to---it was VERY difficult! I always had tea with my meals, it was normal! And often to fill it in the middle of the meal again! Same as going out, they always had to bring a refill. I just had to remove it, or I would drink it without thinking, and it too caused me to hurt, it felt like it caused the food in my pouch to float up into my esophagus, and hurt--the infamous burning golf ball!!! Just keep working on it, and eventually not having it feels normal... just take time to break the habit. Sorry I have no magic answer either!!! Good Luck!!! Kat

These are all in my part of the country---consider yourself welcome! From where I live in the NW corner of New Mexico, I can drive North for less than an hour, and be in the mountains (14,000 feet)at fabulous ski resorts---star spotting in Aspen even, in just over an hour! Or I can drive South, for that hour and be smack dab in the desert! Cactus, and sand as far as you can see. I can drive 50 miles, and stand in 4 states (New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, & Utah) as well as 2 Indian reservations (Navajo and Ute), all at one time! People say you cannot be 2 places at once, there you can be in 6!!! If given the choice I too would go to Italy. I have been to Hawaii many times, my DD used to live there!!! But, I would do Italy while I was able to enjoy it totally! I see how the older I get the less inclined I am to just take a chance and experience things! I am much more careful, I plan, and make reservations, and such instead of just wingin' it! Hawaii is beautiful though, and there is so much to see and do, I highly recommend it---at some point you gotta go!!! Kat

Been there done that....have the divorce to prove it. We...make that I tried. In fact he got out of my bed, and went to the hospital when his son was born! But somewhere in the next 2 days reality struck me to what my life was going to be like from then on out. Not only was this child going to be part of it, so was his mother. When he left to take them back to their house from the hospital, he come home to find his things packed and on the porch. While the emotion, the true hurt, and feelings of betrayal were fresh, I wrote a letter to our year old daughter, for her to be given if ever she ask me WHY didn't I try? The letter remains to this day in the bottom of my hope chest. There have been numerous opportunities to toss it out, she never questioned how I lived my life...but I kept it, hoping to never need it, but who is to say at some point she won't be in your shoes, and reading about Mom surviving it, might help, so it is still buried away. I understand your need to give your marriage every chance. I respect that. Just don't forget who is #1 in this situation, and that is YOU!!! Not even your children!!! YOU!!! YOU will make sure those children are cared for, and you will find a way of letting them know about why you divorced, without throwing blame and accusations. You will do that because you love your children. If you stay together through this pregnancy, you will still have to take care of YOU first, because there is going to be a child, and there will always be something going on, your children WILL be aware of it. YOU need to take care of YOU so that you will have the strength to take care of them. Put very plainly to hell with him right now, let him worry about his mental well being. Let him see his therapist, and get started on his mood elevators....this latest is his doing, and his doing only, let him figure out how to cope!!! I am living proof that life goes on...and gets better! My DD loves her half brother, and the 5 children he went on to father after that!!! He continues to cheat, and hop from yard to yard, trying to find that greener grass...he has never figured out, you gotta stick around and Water the grass at home and it gets greener! I am sorry you are going through this, I remember it quite well. It was devastating. I can tell you where I was, what I was doing...when he dropped the bombshell, that she was pregnant. I thought things couldn't get worse...and truly they did not! I moped, and alternated with fear, and hurt, and disbelief, and finally--true blessed, red hot ANGER! And the anger got me through it!!! I had enough love for my child not to let her see it...but I was pissed finally, and that gave me the backbone I needed to see me through the ordeal. Ironically, we too were high school sweethearts, and that was the big "excuse" for being caught cheating, was he never got to sow any wild oats, he never dated around, or slept with other women, etc. Well he jumped from the frying pan into the fire, and went from one tied down relationship to another---and I was the one then out on the town, dating, having good times!!! He hated that---I had the life he wanted! Hang in there---hugs go out to you, this is not easy, but it IS survivable...I am proof! Kat

Hi girlies--- I too have been MIA---I would have rathered been here chatting with you guys. Rick is on vacation, and we have been working our butts off!!! Monday we took all the remaining wood out of our woodshed, prepped the area, leveled it, built forms, and then mixed and poured cement in a 3 foot by 30, foot. 6 " deep slab. Exhausting, no break work! To make that much cement, we used 8--94 pound bags of cement mix, and 1 ton of sand and gravel. I mix that using large coffee cans, our mixer will hold 3 cans of cement mix, and 12-15 of sand & gravel, along with the water---it is just eyeballed, to the right consistency. But knowing at some point this may be enclosed, we had to mix it to the proper strength to support walls and roofing. The 4'X 30' section was half the woodshed. Tuesday, we went to Colorado, and hauled wood! We filled our truck--3/4 ton, and a 16 foot trailer with 3 foot sides....with Aspen wood. It is a bargain---the wood is mostly cut into 18-22" lengths, some of them full logs, still, others quartered. It is the remnants---at an excelsior factory. Excelsior is the curly wood stuff that the pads for swamp coolers are made of, and it is used in a lot of gift baskets...things of that nature. They shred the logs, and where it fits it the machine, the remainder gets chopped, and piled out in their yard---dwarfed by HUGE piles of long 15 foot logs! But we can go and fill our truck for 5 bucks, and we can fill the trailer for another 5 bucks! Aspen burns pretty quick, and very hot, it is a really clean burning wood, and it is good at eliminating creosote in the chimney. We brought this truck/trailer load in for my parents. My Dad is headed for some serious surgery this next month, so we want to have them prepared as possible. This morning, found us breaking down our forms from the cement the other day, and moving them over, to finish the other half. Rick went and got the sand/gravel and bags of cement mix, while I cooked Breakfast, and fed the girls. When he got back we started...and mixed up another ton of sand and another 800 pounds of cement mix! We have another days work, we are pouring a pad in front of it, so I can go from the house to the wood, without getting wet, or muddy, or snowy or whatever!!! We will likely do that Sunday. After we cleaned up, I took the girls and went grocery shopping, and Rick went to help my folks unload the trailer. Early in the morning, we will leave to get another load of wood! This one will be taken to my inlaws, and left for them to work at unloading this weekend. Which translated, means we will go and unload it Sunday at some point---so we can use the trailer again on Monday to get some wood for ourselves!!! We figure by then, the cement will be cured enough to hold it. Friday and Saturday I convinced Rick to take me out of town for my birthday!!! I just want him away from the constant work! I keep hopping on the scale, knowing it will show a big loss, I have not had time to snack, and I have worked and sweated buckets---and that scale refuses to budge!!!! Thanks so much for all the kind words over my pictures. It is so nerve wracking for me to post them. I have no issue with my friends seeing them, I just keep waiting, for one of them to end up the butt of some email joke!!!! Mandy--Cindy---don't know if either of you shop QVC ever---but I get a notice of their daily special value thing. I keep thinking I will stop it, but then they put something on I think about!!!! Anyway, todays special value is a Mickey Ring, done with their diamonique---in the diamond and black diamond stones, it is pretty cute. You should be able to see it on the website if you are interested. Beannie, it is so good to see you here!!! We miss you...and will send up a prayer for your job situation. Rick and I try to be the same way, our house is paid for, and if the oilfield goes bust again---and it will, it is really a when not an if---we can survive on unemployment, or if he gets a Home Depot job or something. We avoid credit cards, etc. We know people who are so credited out, they will lose everything if the bottom drops out again. We have lived through one bust, ended up moved to Denver, but survived it!!! We are hoping this boom takes us to retirement! We are meeting my son and his family for ice cream here in a few minutes. Not what I would choose to do---but it is for my DIL's birthday. I am anxious to see my grandson, they buzzed his head today! So I better get ready to go. Will check in again, if I don't cement my shoes in!!! Kat

Good deep conditioning does seem to make the hair either feel thicker, or slows it down, I agree Jaqui!!! jrobinson, that is one theory, but it was not my problem---my Protein levels stayed high. I lost hair when doing Atkins, and I ate nothing but protein, my issue is something from the shock to the body of the weight loss. Not being able to eat meat, is another issue, that needs to be addressed! Eating hard protein without pain is one way to guage if you are filled properly. Welcome to LBT!!! Kat

Hi girls- Another exhausting day! This vacation of Rick's may kill me!!! Today we hauled wood. I figure about 2 cords. I'm telling you, I am not in as good of shape as I had hoped to be---these chores are getting the best of me. Tomorrow we will finish our cement---then the next day it is back to the wood. Sometime in this we have to mow the lawn, and deal with a calf---we have to take a ring out of his nose, he will not learn his lesson, so he is in being fattened up---which was not my choice--but my FIL, thinks it is something we should do, and he is willing to pay for the processing. I still won't eat it. This farm girl does not eat what she meets! Go pick one anonymously, or buy one from a 4H kid, but not one I have dealt with!!! The last one they give us that way, we gave the meat to a guy DH works with who was upon hard times. As well as sharing with the kids. DH is sitting here eating ice cream....tempting me....aarrggh!!! Think I will walk out and water the things on the patio, and his tomatoes....get me up and doing something! Will check in later, or tomorrow sometime, it is going to be an EARLY night tonight! Jenn---hugs to you---those troubles are never easy when the heart is involved. Will add that to your prayers for the right job for you!!! Kat Kat

You are definitely without question overfilled! It sounds to me like you were overfilled the first time, finally lost enough to loosen to a good place, then were promptly overfilled again. Get to your Dr, and have some removed, being overfilled is dangerous! You need nutrition, and it is hard on your stomach. Muscle tone will not be detrimental to your band. Good Luck Jane, and welcome to LBT! Kat

Yes Sara, we had a really nice time watching the stars, probably saw about 150 shooting stars---My Dad is very into astronomy, and he loves pointing the constellations out, and tells how they got the names they have, etc. Rick is so patient with him, listening, and asking questions, just made him feel like what he was saying mattered. There are times he irritates the Sam Hell outta me---as all husbands do, but times like last night, just take my breath away, wondering how I got so lucky! Pamela it is good to have you back! I missed your posts!!! Girls if something happens tonight, and I have to run out of my house, I am in deep trouble! I cannot move. Everywhere on my body is sore---cement kicked my butt!!! We prepped,digging out some areas, adding dirt & gravel & sand to others---to level it, built and set our forms. Went & picked up the sand & gravel, and set up---getting things done about 4...and started mixing. We went through 800 pounds of cement and over a ton of sand & gravel! We poured a slab, that is 4 foot wide, by 30 foot long, and it is about 8 inches deep on the high side, and 6 on the low side. It is sloped away from the house. It took us about 30 mixers full, we finished up about 8:30 or 9----I had put a roast in the crockpot thank goodness, I would not have had energy to cook! Rick ate, I didn't even care to...if I eat too late, I reflux...eeewww! Every muscle in my body hurts!!!! I mix, Rick dumps and skreets (sp?), and finishes it. But I am telling you moving that much cement, and sand & gravel even if it is a bucket or a shovel or a can at a time, it all adds up---and weighs a ton regardless!!! We actually use old coffee cans, it takes 3 cans of cement mix, and 12-15 cans of sand & gravel mix to mix it to the strength we needed. We have mixed so much cement through the years, we have a routine down, but let me tell you I had thought the lost weight would help---I really did not see any difference, other than it being harder than I remembered!!!! Must be age catching up to me! Add to the fun of working so hard today, I had hell with Lindzie, every time I turned around she was hitting or pushing, or yelling at Kinsey, right in her face! She even KICKED her, making her fall off the couch,and bashed her face on the coffee table. It took all of my control, not to lose it with her! She spent so many time outs today, it was a rotten day. Rick has not spent a lot of time around her really, he was really irritated with her. He ask her if she wanted to go with him to get the cement and the gravel, Kinsey was sleeping, so he thought he would take her, and let her go do something. She give him a really dirty look (was kind of comical coming from a 6 year old) and said "I want to go, but not with you, I want Granny to go." We told her too bad, and he left shaking his head! It kind of scares me, I hope my little granddaughter is safe. I know Lindzie has a lot going on in her, and anger is normal, but her taking it out on Kinsey cannot happen. She has a black eye, and a bruised stripe from her eyebrow, across her eyelid, and down onto her cheekbone, from hitting the coffee table when she got kicked off the couch. Lindzie knew she had screwed up! I told her "get in the corner, do not open your mouth, I do not want to hear it!" She back talks something terrible! My DD has her work cut out for her, I personally, wonder if it is too much....I wouldn't be a good one to take it. Her Grandma---Dads Mom, the one who is divorcing is in their business all the time, and told her she didn't have to listen to Manda or I, we were not really her family. Then let HER deal with this unruly child everyday!!!! I keep reminding myself, that she is only 6 and something is not right in her life, we need to be patient and kind....oh well...I can't solve it tonight!!! Wish me luck tomorrow!!! We are taking them to get a load of firewood!!! Will the fun NEVER end???? Ok girls I am taking my sore, aching body to bed!!! Kat

From what the Dr. said, and different posts on here, it seems to be more of a body shock/stress reaction than any type of Vitamin deficiency. My Dr. told me that none of the tests he has ran has ever shown a deficiency in the levels that would cause serious hair loss, although he has no choice but to believe it happens, he has seen too much of it! Meanwhile, taking our Vitamins and keeping our nutrition up can do nothing but help. It is my understanding that you CAN overdo it on some vitamins though, so we should not exceed the RDA. Some of them you simply pee out, others can build to toxicity. WABB---has your Dr. recommended 6 Flinstones a day? Mine said 2--and I do them--my Granddaughter and I are actually sharing Dora the Explorer vitamins right now----they are Centrum I believe for kids! and me! btw...thanks on the weight loss kudos! I was so happy I danced nekkid in the kitchen!!!! It just confuses the hell outta me how every Dr. recommends something different, and then we are supposed to have full faith in them...... Kat

Morning everyone!!! Laura, here in NM now you have a 3 mph grace is it, and when it gets radioed in that they are stopping such and such vehicle, they have to state the speed, and then a ticket is REQUIRED!!! No warning! It is supposedly that way due to something in Las Cruces, about pulling over a legislator several times, only to let him go, once they found out who he was, now the ticket is started before they even find out who is driving they say. In my little town, in our little corner of NM, they have an agreement among the 5 (yes, five) local law enforcement entities, that they work in an among the area. There are 3 towns/cities, each with their own police force, as well as the Sherrifs office (we are the county seat, so their main office is here), and the State Police also have several local branches. Any officer can stop you at anytime, even an officer from the other cities! So it is saturated!!! We run radar detectors, because DH had such a hard time going 55 mph. Yep 55----there are so many rural, county roads branching off our state highway, they will not raise the limit, in fact have lowered sections to 45 mph, out in the middle of nowhere! It is a glorified speed trap----we refer to it as "revenue enhancement blvd." DH has his CDL, so he is given NO slack, he is not allowed a single mile over the speed limit, if he is stopped, his tickets are a lot higher. Normally you are considered driving under the influence with an alcohol reading of .08, he cannot have above a .02. Lucky for us we both have good driving records, he has some tickets from his teenage years, but those are looooooooong gone!!!! Be careful, buckle up and slow down----cheaper than the ticket and the resulting rise in insurance!!! Well I was going to try to get to Curves this morning, thinking DH could watch the girls, but he has already taken off!!! He is off getting supplies so he can come home and we can mix and pour cement in our new woodshed....will the fun never end??? It will take 3-4 days to get it all. Mostly because the shed is long and narrow, and enclosed on 2 sides, so we have to be able to get to it to work it, so will have to pour in small batches. As of now it looks like a schedule of making forms today, pouring the first section this afternoon. Hauling a load of wood for the inlaws in the morning, then pouring the second section tomorrow afternoon. Might go after wood for my parents (they can and DO do their own, but Rick feels bad making him do it alone when we have to do his folks, so we may bring them a load too.) Then the next section of cement. Finish the cement on Thursday. Hit the fair Thursday night, which is fun, finally---not work!!! Then I think we will run away Friday for my birthday, and go back up into the mountains....come home late Saturday or early Sunday....Then we have the last 3 days of his vacation, Mon-Wed. to reload the woodshed, and relax!!! Not sure if or when I will fit a traditional workout at Curves in---but I will be working out, rest assured!!! And I will continue to ride/walk/whatever it is you do on it-- my elliptical trainer each evening, I have not missed a night yet!!! I am saving them up, so when I am gone for a few days---I can still consider my goals met! You hear that Terry??? I really AM doing it!!! LMAO Now if Judy would get inside my head a bit better about my food choices....!!!! I LOVE this blaming someone else thing! I find myself in an ebb and flow of making good choices, I do really well, then I have a few days of slacking off, then I get with the program again!!! I think like you suggested to Jenn, I may need to chat with my Dr. concerning my diuretic again, my hands are so swollen this morning, my rings are tight, and usually they spin and slide all around. Water retention has always been an issue with me, and I ate popcorn yesterday, so I know it is the salt. Might go look through the medicine cabinet---see if any remain! Why? Because TWJWD...thats what Judy would do!!! I only have one isse, and that is I am afraid if I take it, I will do just like your DH, and I am going to be covered in cement dust, and do not want to be running in and out of the house!!! Hmmmm swelling, or running in and out, which is the worst of the 2????? Ok, well I am off to get some things done in the house before Rick gets back with the first load of supplies, and we get started....cement mixing with 2 kids running around, this could be fun!!! Wish us luck!!! Kat

Thanks so much guys--y'all are so sweet to me!!! We rode up to the mountains when Rick got off today...went up to a place called Vallecito Lake. It is up in the tall mountains, big pine trees, beautiful lake. It was cool, but not cold by any means. The air was wonderful. They have this very cool restaurant called the Buffalo Gap (they have live buffalo, and have it on the menu as well.) So we pull in, are laughing and having a good time, we rode up with our friends Becky & Gary. We walk in, and there sits my former son in law! Talk about a mood wrecker! He skipped his weekend visit with my granddaughter, saying he had to work in Grand Junction---that little devil on my shoulder MADE me tell him he took a wrong turn to Junction!!! He stuttered and stammered, he works with Rick so he couldn't cover his butt at all!!!! Well I had/have a date later tonight!!! Yep it is already after 10, and I said later! DH made the date with me, and set it all up---we were really looking forward to it! There is a big meteor shower last night and tonight, and last night was too cloudy, plus he worked today. So he took the camp mattress and put in the bed of the truck and a couple of quilts, and he fixed us a cooler to take, I have no idea what is in it. Don't tell---but I think he thought if he got me out in the dark hills under a bunch of shooting stars he might get lucky (pssst he was probably right!!!.) And then he mentioned we were going in front of my Dad, who said how much he'd like to go, but the dark roads, are something he can't do anymore....so he added a couple of chairs to the truck, and we are picking up my Dad on the way out about 11:00 or so!!! The kicker is he did not make my Dad feel intrusive, and he didn't pout about it getting messed up---sure do love that guy!!! Well I am off to change into something to cover up just in case the skeeters are still awake.... Terry, thanks again for your help with my pics, and thanks to all of you for the support and encouragement!!! ((((hugs))))) Kat

angeleyes, I am sure that is an added advantage to some pre-op diets, the cleaning out. During this and post op you will often hear the phrase "liquids in=liquids out", the diarhea is very common and very normal for the types of "food" you are consuming. Following surgery, many become constipated, and with nothing in your intestines and bowel to have to strain with is beneficial. Straining can put undue pressure on your inner stitches. Just be sure to stay withing a reasonable distance to the bathroom...and hang on, this will be over soon. You are not alone, most of us went through it! Kat

Thanks Sara--you are too sweet! I don't know if any of you are into affordable, sterling silver jewelry...I am. I am extremely rough on jewelry with the farm work, and kids. Add to that the change in size the last year or so, but I have been buying from this company---and spent too much today already!!! I don't have stock in it or anything, thought you might find some things to enjoy while your sizes change, without it costing an arm and a leg. Each item is $5.99. They claim it to be free and the $5.99 to be shipping---whatever it is, it all costs the same $5.99. They show 4 items at a time, and they change every 15 minutes, staggered, and depending on whether one sells out or not. Keep in mind most of the necklaces, it is just the pendant, no chain unless you order the sterling chain. I love buying it for my nieces---I keep a stash on hand for their visits, and have begun buying some for Lindzie. The website is Free sterling silver jewelry. Free offers from SilverJewelryClub.com Don't blame me if your 6 bucks each add up as quickly as mine do!!! Kat

At least I smile now for a camera!!!! Kat

Ok girlies, this is soooooo hard! I hate my own pictures!! But at the same time I am really proud of the change---so here goes. I don't know how to do more than one picture collage thing per post so will do the faces in another. Thanks for being here for me through all this change!!!! Kat

Getting there....but not finished yet!!! Kat