Kat817

That's right Lunasa, I had forgotten the surgeon did say that the fatty pubic mound was another area lipo could be done.....my FUPA could use some help too!!!! I was not able to book an appointment for the day we will be in ABQ, so I am going to look over the calendar, and find a day that works. I ask her about the injection vs. lipo, and she said they are doing new things everyday, and that the Dr. is the best one to outline my options....of course!!! But will be working towards that in the next few weeks. She said the Dr. could return my call if there was anything particular I wanted to discuss, but I don't think I have anything special to discuss. I just want it done....yesterday!!!! Thanks for assuring me that it IS worth it Lunasa-----hugs! Going to head to Curves after getting my nails done today I think. I usually give it a day between, but they are right next door, so it seems like a sign!! I was going to get on my elliptical this morning after the girls arrived, they usually snooze a little while, but Kinsey wanted to snooze ON Granny!!! So we all cat napped together! So maybe Curves will make up for it! Welcome Patricia----You too will come to love this group! Laura---so sorry the bug got you, and on your honeymoon no less. At least it was shortlived, and you made it through the ceremony. Might it have been heat exhaustion??? Guess we will have to refer to you as MRS. Laura now! I bet you are excited to get into your new home, and living your new life. Congratulations!!!! Anyone taken kids or grandkids to see the new Rattat (laugh it up, we ALL know I have no hope in hell of spelling this right!!!!)rattatouie?????? Thinking of taking the granddaughters tomorrow, and just wondering if it will hold the interest of the 2 yr old. My DIL is mad at me, and has not come around, so I have not got to see my grandson. Makes me sad, and mad both! I simply told her the hospital was no place for him. It wasn't! Every single one of us got that virus, and he could have ended us just as sick as Kinsey was---he is younger than she is. Add to that the fact that she does not discipline him in any way, and there is sooooo much to get into in a hospital. Oh well, she will get over it. She has been spending a lot of time with Rick's ex.....and she always becomes distant then. She is NOT a good role model, we are hoping she has changed her ways. Well I need to go check the water in the kids pool, it is filling. Hoping it warms some so they can play after lunch. My Mom is coming over to watch them while I get my nails done.....and exercise!!! Talk to y'all later!!!! Kat ps---for the newbies, I am Kat, married to Rick, we are both 46. We live in the 4 corners area of New Mexico. We have 3 kids...a son and 2 daughters. A total of 4 grandkids now, I take care of the 2 girls one 6 and one 2 most days. I ran a day care for 20 years, and have now chose to keep just ours, and let my DH pay the bills!!!! He works for a world wide oilfield service company. DH has had some serious health issues this last year, heart valve surgery, and a massive GI bleed....so it has been a tough year! I had my band surgery in Mexico in April of 06. I am down 96 pounds this morning I think....the weight loss has slowed down, but the body is still changing a lot. I have had 2 fills, and am pretty happy where I am. We welcome you and look forward to getting to know you!

Welcome Melissa---it is a wonderful group!!! Margi, if you are able to eat now, I would wait a day or so and see how things progress. Your restriction WILL change, it may not do so quickly, or even quick enough to avoid an unfill, but if restriction did not change, then none of us would ever need more fills. As you lose weight on the outside you are also losing it on the inside, and that is the goal!!!! It sounds like maybe you had some stress issues, worrying about it being too tight, and once you relaxed from making the unfill decision-----the relaxing allowed you to settle down. I have read of it happening with many, many others!! Stress has a lot to do with the band....and the timing in your menstrual cycle could have been affecting it as well. I don't know, but I am glad you can eat again!! Jennifur---I finished my laundry, and even unloaded the DW....it was pretty wierd having everything done. I have spent the last week feeling like I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off----and then to suddenly have time to relax???!!! Unheard of! Off to visit with Rick for a bit, he has been tied up with work---I hate that, the phone never stops some nights!!! TTYL Kat

I agree with all of these.....I also feel like if you chose your Dr. you need to follow his/her guidelines, regardless what everyone else on here is doing, or what their Dr. said. Every Dr. is different it seems, and no one wants to listen to theirs!!! And if I say mine did or didn't instruct me to do something, all hell breaks loose!!! I mentioned that my Dr. never denied me using a straw---I in fact had one on my tray in the hospital. OMG I had people telling me my band was likely already slipped, and I would be sorry....all doom and gloom!!! Crazy!!! Yeah I must have had a bad Dr. too---I am not losing 50 a day either......waaaah!!!! Kat

We go to a steak house here quite often (Texas Roadhouse) and they offer a side kick of ribs or a side kick skewer of grilled shrimp for like $5.99 when added onto a meal. So DH orders his meal, adds me the sidekick of one or the other, and I order a dinner salad, and we are both happy!!!! Ribs, have never been an issue for me. I am glad the 4th is over, and I also had a HUGE luau party, and a hige cake filled reception for my parents 50th Anniversary---there was food everywhere, lucky for me I was so freakin' exhausted, food was not even appealling!!! Now that it is all behind me, I am back on exercise track----yeeehaw!!! Welcome to bandland Laurend---glad you did well! Kat

I was told that no question ask in seriousness is silly!!! I have a low profile port. The two times I have had fills, it was a little harder to find. I am down almost a hundred pounds now, and if you feel for it, it is there, but it is not visible from the outside, nor do I rub against it without trying to. Originally the port was just below and to the left of my biggest scar, which is about an inch and a half....and is just left of center, about 6 inches below my breasts. The port itself has not moved, but the scar is now well below the port itself, as I have lost weight, the skin sagged some, and now the scar and the port are no longer positioned together. I seldom feel my port without doing so intentionally. It may be TMI, but occasionally I feel pressure on it, in certain sexual positions---but a quick shift and all is well, it is not in the way, nor is it unsightly. There used to be a thread of incision pics......look for scar under the search tab, and I bet you could find it!!! Welcome to LBT----good luck on yoru research, this is an awesome site to look around and learn!! Let us know if we can help in any way! Kat

I just got back----walked to Curves and worked out, and walked home. I felt great walking home, I did it, I made myself get out of the house and go!! I had only lost 3 pounds this last month. I also lost 2 inches...I lost 3 but had gained an inch in the bust...so cancelled some out, and the bust measurement changes dependent upon which bra I am wearing.....dangit! Anyway....back in October when I began Curves, my body fat percentage was 54% it said. Today, my body fat percentage is 30.4%----and I was well hydrated today too! I had already had over 60 ounces of water---I drank my 3rd 20 oz bottle of water on my walk down....plus have had iced tea as well, so hydration was up... I'll tell you what, it still sends a little thrill through me when I get on one of those scales like they use, and I can take the little weight and put it on 150-----!!! I went for years having to put it on the 200 then up to the 250......so I was excited when I got back to putting it on 200---and now it is back into the 1's......I used to use my mass to block it from anyone's view! Would opt out of weighing at the Dr.'s office. Now, I don't care!!!!! I know there are people having this surgery who are not much bigger to begin with than I am now, but this is such a difference from where I was, I am thrilled and proud! AND I am exercising again!!! WoooHooo!!!! Judy, I am the same way, I have tons of clothes to get rid of. I need to pop over to some of the threads, who are prepping for surgery in the next month or 2 and see if anyone needs any. I should go with the quality over quantity thing, but buying the clothes is so much more fun now!!!! Dinner is in the crockpot, hoping Rick feels like eating. My granddaughters are gone....the house is picked up....I feel like I have nothing to do----I LOVE IT!!!!!! Gonna go cruise the site, maybe play some mah jong!!! Catch y'all later!!! Kat

Jennifur, I am so sorry, I did not mean to further confuse you, on the Tummy Tuck Lipo thing! Before it slips my aged mind (!) WELCOME JOSIE!!!! I too am a transplant---I truly am an April bander-----just a year ahead of everyone!!! I came her to offer any advice and support I could, and I found out I really LIKE these people they are diverse and supportive, and caring, and non judgemental----all around good people---and they let me stay too. So hang out, have fun!!!! Ironically the other thread I "belong" to, is a state thread, and as far from where most of us live as possible!!! Ok Jennifur, the Dr. told me that ideally they will cut a low bikini line cut, in the area between the pubic bone and the hip bones. It will extend most of the distance across from one hip bone to the other. Then they go in, and "remove your belly button" so to speak. IT is cut all around, and left attached to the umbilicus then they pull the excess skin downward. Usually removing the lower skin completely, which often gets rid of stretchmarks etc. When they get it tightened, and the positioning is right, then they make a hole and bring your belly button back through, and stitch it back to where it was originally, on the new tight skin. The PS I spoke with said most of the time if he needs to contour the belly with liposuction, it is around where the new belly button is placed, to remove any remaining fat pad, so it heals smoothly, and as an "inny". He gave me a measurement of how much was removed, and he said it like it was an extremely small amount. Before I would even consider that much, I would research it some more! He explained to me where each of the 3 drains would be pklaced, and why. and told me how he would re attatch my torn muscle. He said many women have the roll around the sides they want lipo to remove, I do not have that. They are definitely 2 different things, and one does not automatically need the other. My fill Dr./ surgeon, does not do any lipo, he is not licensed to do so, and he said I did not need any....so I think it is very individual, and very dependent upon what the patient looks like and what the Dr. thinks needs done. I'd be happy with the belly gone and who cares if my belly button is not belly button ring worthy!!!!! Terry----I hereby give you full permission to "be a jerk" and nag me, and bug me, and be a PITA-------make me work out!!!!!! LOL TTYL Kat

Where is everybody??? Betty??? No morning check in? Hope all is well, and that you all survived the storms. Being gone to the hospital all the time, I don't know if I missed something. C'mon girls---check in----I got my Kinsey home, I want to know everyone is well!!!! How'd the first day go Dianne??? Mandy you ok? I think I am officially a real Granny----Kinsey and Rick are ok, so I am worrying over y'all!!!!! That is what I do----worry!!!! Kat

Morning all! No worries with the lipo here----the original PS surgeon I spoke with told me the only place he routinely finds himself doing any, in cases such as mine, is contouring where the new belly button finds itself. And in my case, if fat has formed in an area that would make reattaching the torn muscle impossible, which is very likely. Both Dr.s have told me that. And I know that side of my stomach is bigger, and still has fat/meat...something behind the skin that is not on the other side---heck it may be the retracted muscle itself I am feeling---I have no idea! I have never had a big 'love handle' issue, or no saddle bags----nothing I feel a need for lipo for. The PS surgeon told me he does not do aggressive lipo on band patients because there is tubing and a port to deal with, he said he would prefer just a modification of the existing skin. He said he can show me the difference and explain more to me in person, that he has pictures, which he only uses in a face to face appointment, they are not something he will email or anything, which is fine, I wouldn't want him sending mine out either!!!! I am going to call today and see if I can get in on the 2nd or not. I didn't base my choice on the availability of the lipo, it is just the only thing my other surgeon cannot do. The main reason I opted for him out of my top 2 was location. I would be happy with either surgeon, was just considering my own comfort in traveling. Both have told me it is a big surgery...and my muscle issue makes it challenging---fun! Just what I wanted to be a challenge! LOL Kinsey got her cast off yesterday, and was sent home last night. She is here, laying on the couch, kinda shell shocked looking. She says her foot hurts, and her pokes hurt (her IV, blood draws---everything was referred to as pokes)....she is just kinda grumpy. The ortho put her in a Bledsoe Boot, but it is removable, so she can be properly bathed, and she can swim, etc. Sure is good to look over and her be there!!! Scared this Granny something fierce! Rick is up and gone....he has meetings all morning, so I guess he is ok, I have not heard differently, and don't call him when I know he is in meetings. He was actually looking forward to his meetings this morning. He has been working on updating his crews pay scales, and they also won some Western USA award, and he gets to give his guys all good news today. Don't you just love when people really start noticing, and saying something!!! Your NSV's sound wonderful! Not that it makes a difference, I mean EVERY Dr. has different rules, and reasons for what they do....but I actually had coffee on my tray once following surgery in the hospital, until I told them I am not a coffee drinker. I drink tea EVERY day. Iced tea---year round....24/7... I do brew it at home using Decaf bags---but when I go out it is fully leaded as DH says. Have you ever ask WHY? I know the reasons behind the soda---and wonder if the coffee, etc os due to the caffeine??? Judy--if I onlyhad a small apron I would be ok with it---but it is unsightly, and begining to really show the size difference from side to side. I began this at 289 pounds, and the biggest majority of that weight was in my belly. Like I say, I have always had thin legs, and hips----I looked like humpty dumpty!!! We have no pool at home---if I want to take the grandkids swimming, we have to go to either a friends house, or a public pool. Or we can take the boat to the lake. Any which one I do, is in public---I have finally lost most of the weight, I want to be able to go without wondering if they are still staring! Without clothes it looks a bit like a deflated balloon---one that has been blown up a long time!!!! When I had to buy big bathing suits---ones with skirts, and such were all you could find. Well this year, none worked well!!! To get the rest to fit...the legs were too big, and allowed the apron to show...which was TOO gross!! And a 2 piece is not even an option yet. I do not want a bikini body---ok maybe I want it---I do not expect it!!! But I think maybe one of the tankini tops and boy shorts would work best for me----IF this apron was gone, now it looks all puffy stuffed in them....but if I get a one piece with top coverage, the leg openings are too big, and allow it all to just hang. It was gross!!!!! I don't say that in a fit of body hate!!! I actually find things about my body I like now! I like my legs---they are nicely toned....even if they are dayglo white! My back is toning up well....no more bra bulge anywhere! I can see my shoulder blades, and it curves in at my waist now! What butt I have left is a bit saggy, but ok. My forearms are toned! Upper arms have a lot of jiggle left, but it is getting better. Boobs are saggy, but in a bra, it is ok, and having cleavage that doesn't feel like just a continuation of my chins is great! I have collarbones---visible ones! But the belly----there is just no hope for. This is not something I am taking lightly---and I thank you for the advice and support concerning the lipo. I agree, I am not 20 something, I am never going to be that again! I just want to look semi normal---and that isn't happening with this belly. Will keep you all in the loop of what the Dr, has to say!!! Well I need to go get dressed. Sesame Street is over, and that means so is Granny time!!!! Talk to y'all in awhile! Kat

Well Jennifur, I have had some issues with a torn muscle in the stomach wall for many years, courtesy of an a$$hole ex husbands well placed boot. The one advantage to that is it has been documented for MANY years, and I never got it fixed, my weight was a barrier against any elective surgery. Now, my insurance will pay to fiux it, with no problem, and the tummy tuck will be done in conjunction with it....and will also be covered to eliminate the excess weight from the healing. I have spoke with 2 Dr.s. One recommended out of Albuquerque, I saw him years ago, and plan on visiting with him in person again soon. I have spoke to his office 2 times, and they have given me all the info I requested, as well as references. He is a plastic surgeon, and can do the tuck, and also do lipo to contour. I also spoke to my Dr. who does my fills, he is licensed, to do abdominoplasty----he can remove the excess and fix my muscle, but would not be able to do the lipo. I don't know that I will want/need liposuction----I plan on meeting face to face with the PS I went to before. He was a very nice guy, he was willing to try to fix my muscle then, he never degraded me for my weight---he was also very informative, and willing to sit and talk with me. He spoke with me over the phone a couple of months back, and said he prefers to let weight loss settle before doing anything, so that you get the best results. Rick sees his Dr. on the 2nd and I am going to see if I can get a consult that day. I like my fill Dr. and have no doubt his perfectionist attitude would yield me good results, but it is further away. Albuquerque is 3 hours....my fill Dr. is 6. It is a fairly painful procedure he said, especially with the big muscle involvement I am going to have. I will go home with 3 drains. So the closer the better I think. My belly is the worst. If I were to suddenly have a flat belly, I could be happy right where I am. I love my curves...I do not want to be skinny. I am quite muscular, and without this belly a size 12 would be easy........probably a 10 would do better. I am in a comfy 14 now, but they only fit at the waist, the hips and thighs are baggy. So....all in all my weight has maintained, losing slowly....but no drastic changes now. I just choose to wait until after the summer, I do not want to recover now---I want to be out doing things! Then I have all the kids birthdays (starting in August, then each month through December!!!) , and the holidays. So I want to have it done about the end of January or so. So if I begin the process with the PS in the next couple of months I should be right on schedule! My scale is stuck at 192----so if I were able to get the next 15 off, I would be in the 177 range---and then whatever is lost through surgery---I would consider myself happy and my goal met. My DD is my height, and build she is 170 pounds, and wears a size 9 junior pants. I don't see myself there again, I don't need to be there....like I say I kinda like curvy. Rick likes curvy. If I get too low, I look like a linebacker....I am too top heavy! So......I need to bust my butt and get rid of 15 pounds!!! Any and all help appreciated!!! Kat

:happybday2::happybday2::happybday2::happybday2::happybday2::happybday2:HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARCY!!!!!! Hope you are relaxing and enjoying yourself at the cabin or wherever you have been hiding out!!!! Hope your day was wonderful!!!! :happybday2::happybday2::happybday2::happybday2::happybday2::happybday2: Kat

Hi Patty good to see you!!! Thanks for the good wishes, everyone is recovering, although keep in mind Rick is MALE and they of course get everything twice as bad......LOL! As for the fill----wait until you feel the need! As of the 20th of this month ---it will be one year since my last fill. I am still limited on how much I can eat, but not in what I can eat, so it seems perfect to me. I am inching my way down now, it is sloooow going. But it IS going! The last 20-30 pounds are going to take awhile, but I got time! I feel so awesome without the 90+ pounds it isn't a big deal! Well I need to go move some Water around the yard...these 100+ degree days are taking their toll on the grass. Will check in later!!! Kat

Just stopping by to touch base, and let all of you know we are surviving. Keep in mind, I DO worry about Rick and his bleeding issues, but that aside he is a typical man....he is SICK......likely more so than I was, because how did I get up and go the next day (he asks with awe---), he tried, and come home early from work....I just bit my tongue and offered him some jello!! MEN!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY (or belated birthday!!) Girlies!!! Hope your days are/were happy, and that this is the begining of a whole new year...one where your dreams really do come true! Fills are as individual as everything else with this band!!! As of the 20th of this month, it will be one year since my last fill, and I still feel pretty good restriction. Not as tight as the begining of the time following the fill. But enough restriction, my amounts are seriously limited, but the foods I can eat are not. I find this a perfect place to be. The losing is slow now, but I am at an ok place with that. The key to me getting the last 20 something pounds off is exercise, not another fill, I fully believe. So----the race is on. I have to have the next 15 off, so that I can schedule my tummy tuck as planned for the early part of next year, and my Dr. prefers you to be at a steady weight for 4-6 months, so your body has settled before he operates. He actually said he would do it now, but I want to get down another 15 pounds. I was shocked by my body fat percentage measurment at Curves---it has lessened by half since I started. But I am building lots of muscle, I even shock myself!!!! Going to check it again tomorrow, and measure and weigh in---hoping for good news! Will let ya know! Well I am having a homemade chicken pot pie kind of thing, leftovers abounded....so I made Rick some chicken soup, and turned mine into this....kind of pot pie thing...hope it tastrs as good as it smells! Guess I'll go dig in. As usual, I made enough for a family of 4....when will I ever learn????? Kat

Hi girlies---well I have wonderful news and not so wonderful news, Kinsey is so much better---she is actually coming home tomorrow! She is pretty weak, and is just begining to eat...still doing the BRAT diet, but so far so good. She is eating and pooping, so the intestines are alive and well---Thank You God!!! Rick however is down with it. I spent several hours stressing as he threw up repeatedly. We almost left and went to ER, but he kept changing his mind. Through it all, there was no bleeding. I kept a phone in hand all day ready to hit 911. He is still having other bathroom issues, and fever, and headache, but his heaving has quit, and he is sleeping it off. Most of us had it for about 24 hours, and it was vicious! The Dr. said Kinsey's intestines just reacted to the violence of her dry heaves. She heaved every few minutes all day long, because the one stupid pediatrician, refused to give her any medication, telling us it would mask whatever the true issue was. When her actual pediatrician come in, she gave her medication, but by then, the colon had inflamed to a point, nothing was passing or absorbing. It is extremely painful. I had the same issue following my hysterectomy. They gave me the same live bacteria treatment, and voila----almost instant relief! And the same with her. My problems were related to my years of endometriosis. There was tissue that had to be cleaned up, due to the cancer diagnosis....and during that, they kept moving my intestines around, and they reacted. It was miserable! I got to the point I was seriously making deals with God when it came time to go to the bathroom---nothing worked. Within an hour of treatment, life was good again! I am so glad hers worked the same. If it had gone on for too long, there would have been a chance of parts of the intestine or the colon dying off---and it would have had to be surgically removed. So....her being well is WONDERFUL!!!!! Sherry---I sure do hope that you get some answers. I find if I flush my pouch before bed, I do fine. If I go to bed with food in it, I reflux. So....I drink a glass of water about an hour or 2 before bed, and it usually works. I have even (sshhh this is bad---don't tell) occasionally if I eat to late, drank with my meal. Dianne---good luck tomorrow, I know you will do wonderful at the new job! Mandy---thanks for all the messages---it does always help knowing you guys are out there!!! My DD ask me where I come up with the website, I told her one of Kinsey's cyber Aunties passed it on!!! Well I am off to check on the sickie! Sorry I didn't get to touch base with everyone........hope you Texans are drying out.....Betty? Cindy? You ok? Talk to y'all tomorrow!!! Kat

Hi all----well I have wonderful news....and not so wonderful news....but it is not terrible news!!! LOL---ok enough lead in! Kinsey is coming home tomorrow! She has eaten, and pooped, and that is what they were waiting for! The intestine is all alive, and functioning---Thank You God! What a relief! She is down about 4-5 pounds, which is not good, she is now skinny, not just small---but we will work on getting it back on her. The not so good news----Rick has it. I believe he caught it from me. It took about the same length of time for me to catch it from the girlie, and then him from me. It was a scary afternoon, with him throwing up. I kept a phone with me every second, ready to dial 911. But he never had any blood, and he has gotten past the worst of the nausea. Luckily for the rest of us, it was about a 24 hour bug---vicous for the duration though! He is still dealing with the other bathroom issues, and some fever, and headache....but the throwing up was the thing we most feared, and he survived it without issue. He is in bed sleeping it off now. The rest of us have moved past it now....hope this bug is finished with my family now!! I had a NSV today that I NEVER would have expected. I have neighbors to the south, that are super snobby!!! They are quite well off, and have always looked down their noses at me! I never let it get to me, I blow them off. It isn't just me, the rest of the neighborhood---we all get together and we all visit, but the 2 to my south, are very snooty. They both are successful local business owners. Well today I run into the couple that lives right next door in the store, while I was buying 7-up etc. for Rick. And this perfectly groomed, prissy never bigger than a size 6 neighbor tells me "Well I didn't even recognize you, you've gotten so slim". And she went on to chat with me, like we were real neighbors---I guess my large size offended her or something.....???? Not caring that she spoke---but she called me SLIM!!!!!! Had to laugh, because Rick has been jokingly referring to me as Slim. I am bouncing 2 pounds again.....they come off, they return....so will be seriously joining the exercise challenge on Tuesday. Tomorrow will be another crazy day I imagine, getting Kinsey out of the hospital, and to ortho to get her cast off....and at some point my DD needs to go and be at her new job!!!! So I am shooting for Tuesday.....maybe I should actually go get on the eliptical, and start NOW!!!! Well....I am going to go check on my email----it should be nice and full!! Hope all went well for Laura. Terry, glad you guys got to go spend some time having fun. It really does help. I enjoyed last night so much, we laughed and talked, seemed like we had not connected in days. Gotta tell you what a wonderful friend I have. She had to leave while Kinsey was in the hospital to go to TX to a family reunion, and we talked on the phone, so she knew I had been sick as well, and at the hospital all the time. She bought me a Merry Maid visit, to do some things I was complaining about needing to do. Someone opened a pop and splattered my windows in the back, during the luau I think, so she is having all my windows cleaned! And they are going to clean all my light fixtures! Sounds silly, but I have some that are pretty intricate....I never even knew they would do that! I wanted to do them before the party but never got it done. They will do it Tuesday! FUN!!!! Ok---I am off, need to check on DH----talk to you all tomorrow!!!! Hugs- Kat

I am only here for a minute, but had to report the good news. Kinsey received 2 doses of live bacteria today, and it has done wonders! She is talking, even sang a song for the nurses. She is sipping pedialite, and had a pedialite popsicle, and has kept them down. She once again had some diarrhea---not pleasant, but things are alive and moving, which is WONDERFUL!!!!! She still wants food she cannot have, and will likely have that as an issue for a couple more days----but things have made huge improvements. She has not had to have glucose added, her blood sugar is holding normal again....her blood work was ALL good. Thank you all for hanging with me through this scary time. I hate to cut this short, but I am going to go sit in the back yard with Rick, listen to the blues music coming from the park, look at the stars, breath deep for the first time in days, and Thank God....I just needed to stop quickly and thank all of you too.....I'll talk to you tomorrow!!! Love Yas!!! Kat

Kinsey received her second dose of the live bacteria this afternoon, and has made huge steps in the right direction...she is talking, even sang a song for the nurse. I am breathing deep for the first time in days!!!!!!! I hate to be short, since you were all here for the worst of it, but Rick and I are going to go sit in the yard---listen to the blues music coming from the park---look at the stars, and Thank God. I just wanted to take a minute and thank you too....talk to you tomorrow!!!! Love ya all!!! Kat

Y'all have no idea how glad I am to have you!!! The live bacteria they gave Kinsey is seeming to help. The nurse thinks she is hearing sounds begining in the bowel. I am praying it is so, and that what she hears starts the turnaround we need. Kinsey is more alert today, and still wants food. As horrendous as it is, I am seeing her wanting food as a continued good sign. We have been reading stores, and she has fallen asleep, so I sent my DD for a shower, and orders to eat something---hope she listens. After I got my emotions out on all of you last night, I began a journal of sorts, concerning how our care has gone, highlighting the good along with the horrid. I intend on hand delivering it, Monday to the floor supervisor, and on up. Also plan on letting them know, I will be changing the names, and turning it in to our local newspaper. There is a HUGE competition between our local hospital here in the corner of NM and another in the corner of CO--both the only real hospitals in the 4 corners....and they hate negative publicity! It is ridiculous actually. The paper showed that like 73% of Durango and surrounding Colorado residents refuse to go to their local hospital, and will travel the 45 miles to Farmington NM to this hospital, and a similar # of local NM residents say the same about this hospital, and travel to Durango!!! The grass is always greener! Anyway I will tell anyone and everyone who will listen! I am taking notes, and names, and decided to let todays nurses know I am doing so....and we have been well taken care of!! I cannot thank yoou all enough for understanding, and reaching out to us. You are without doubt a very special group of friends. I too keep thinking about Laura, hoping her dress made it upright. And that they do not melt! Hope the triple 7's bring all of us good luck today. Terry---Jennifur---I know you want the relationships you are in to work....but please look out for yourselves too. The changes we are going through have from what I read caused problems in many marriages. Men often handle fear, and uncertainty with anger. Only you can decide what is enough....but know we will always be here to listen---you cannot be here too much for us Terry, only in te fact that we know you would rather be off elsewhere---but we will always be here to listen. And if you need to voice it---say the word, and my # will be PM'd in a heartbeat---to any one of you!!! I need to send a mass email to family and friends ith an update, but stopped here first!!! Guess I will get on it. Things have not made a lot of change, but nothing is worse, and we had been going downhill quickly----so holding her own seems like a positive to me! I'll keep in touch as the little Princess allows!!! Hugs to all....Happy Happy wedding Laura!!! Kat

hi---just a quick note---the live bacteria are helping it seems like. She is more alert, and has bowel sounds starting they think. I will keep you posted. Hoping this is the turnaround we need tomorrow will be a week since she has eaten anything that stayed down....she is wanting Granny to read. No books on the floor since they cannot be steralized, so I am finding stories on line, or pictures, and making up the story!!! Will check in---thank you all!!!! Love, Kat

Hi everyone---once again, thank you more than I know how to say for the continued prayers for my family and my little Kinsey in particular. It seems that is was just an everyday gastro intestinal virus that was especially vicious, and contagious, as it has now taken 4 generations of us (my Mom is now sick) down in less than a week. No one else who was at the anniversary has been ill, so thankfully I did not poison everyone. Most of us have been hit hard, and recovered about as quickly, not so with Kinsey. Her case has left her with issues in the colon. Her colon is inflamed, and non reactive. It is not allowing food to enter, so there is no absorption taking place. She is failing, bit by bit, and they have continued to tell us to wait it out. Today, they finally decided maybe that isn't working---and we had a surgical consult. He sent off yet more specimans for culture....and if it warrants it, we will be flying her to either Albuquerque to the University Hospital, or to Denver to the Children's hospital, depending on what type of issue they think we are dealing with. They have downgraded her condition to critical. She bounces from sleeping, which we found out was caused by her blood sugar being below 40! To being so irritable as to not be recognizable--a screaming raging child....to one sobbing for food. It absolutely has broken my heart into a million, million pieces. She tells us point blank she is hungry, and asks for any and all kind of food she can think of...with giant tears in her big blue eyes....then she just goes limp, with the look of total dejection. She is 2, she does not understand why we keep letting them poke her, why we will not feed her....why we don't help her when she tells us her tummy hurts. She begs, Please Granny. And repeats "no pokes, no needles, please" everytime someone new enters the room. Add to this heartache (and it is TRUE heart ACHE), my DD's ex, Kinsey's father, is there trying as usual to be the funny man---and his mother an OR nurse at the hospital we are in, going behind everyones backs and putting down Dr.s and nurses, and questioning them and ultimately pissing them off--- and causing problems....I do not know which way to turn. The ex, and his Mom were arguing with my DD about whether the Dr. might want to run a blood test that might tell them about a disease that my DD's grandma on her Dads side had called Celiac Disease. The nurse dislikes the former MIL anyway, so ordered everyone except the 2 who have been staying the night with Kinsey out of the ward. Now this being said....the arguement was not loud, it was out of the room, and Kinsey is the ONLY patient in Peds. She saw it as a chance to get rid of Renee (former MIL) and did it. So we all were banished. My DD was there with her bf/fiance....they had not had a chance to eat...well we are fighting to get DD to eat, she refuses until her baby can eat....it is more than I know how to handle. Rick waited until shift change, and took some dinner to the hospital, and they were going to take turns going to the waiting room---I just don't think my DD is eating at all either---I keep telling her Kinsey needs her strong. It is very hard to put anything in your mouth knowing she is begging for the same. There were 3 nurses on the floor today, with Kinsey the only patient. At one point, she had a blow out---we had her in a diaper, due to this happening...but she went through the diaper, all over the bed, all over her Mama, her gown, the whole 9 yards. I sent my DD to change, and I proceeded to clean Kinsey up after telling the nurse. They were each on a computer comparing prices of the new Harry Potter book. I got Kinsey cleaned up, walked her out to the hall, found her a new gown in the shelf, took her in and dressed her. By then her Mama was back, and she sat down and held her, while I stripped the bed. I went walking out into the hall with this wad of smelly sheets and ask what they wanted me to do with them, she POINTED to a soiled linens hamper thing. Then she got up, walked to a closet, and handed me linens for the bed! They did not come in and disinfect the mattress----nor did she make the bed! I did. Our baby needed to lay down. They come in 2 times today and did vitals----nothing else. She is still casted, it was due to come off today, the nurse never mentioned to the Dr, we needed a ortho consult until after office hours---now she is stuck until Monday. They did not offer to help bathe her----NOTHING!!! Changed one bag of IV fluids....took 2 sets of vitals.....and surfed the net all day. Now this is the first day for this set of nurses....all of the other shifts, and sets of nurses we have had, have went out of their way to make us comfy, and help our little one in any way---today they were absolutely worthless. Tomorrow I intend on finding out who the nursing supervisor is, and filing a complaint. I have no way to make our baby better.....and I have emotions pent up that those worthless women know nothing about----but are fixing to find out about! While I am there seeing the supervisor or charge nurse or whoever....I will also mention, that we had Kinsey in a wagon pulling her around and around and around the 3rd floor......anythnig but her room, she was so tired of her room....and on one of our turns we passed the ICU entrance. There was a male nurse there Julian, who teased her every time she passed, he would hand her a new crayon.....then a piece of paper....and finally a stuffed doll (out of one of the claw grabber kind of machines it seems). She was so listless, but she would spark a little knowing we were coming up to where he was....he helped our day immensley....I will commend him, as I do my best to take the others down. Amanda said he even come by to tell her to get well, he was going on his 4 days off, and he hoped she was home and well before he come back to work. Her nurse.....never even walked into the room before she left. Thank you all for listening once again---all these things are boiling inside me. I am scared to death for Kinsey. Latching onto the anger I can control. The plan as it stands now is to begin introducing good bacteria into the system tomorrow...similar to what is found in yogurt. IF the tests do not show a total shut down. If they show a total failure, we are off to a bigger hospital for surgery. She has lost weight, she is under 17 pounds now. She doesn't show it much because she is really swollen from all of the IV fluids. They are also watching her blood sugars every 3 hours (which is just another poke----and was NOT done on schedule today), and adjusting the glucose in her IV. They finally gave her some Pepcid type of stuff in her IV for the acid in her stomach, since nothing is passing normally. She has complained less of her tummy hurting with that. And that is all----we wait now....and wait....and wait....and wait. I have my lap top, and I have connection. I just cannot sit in her room with these tears streaming down my face. You guys are my release in so many ways....thank you so much. I will let you know something as soon as I can. Please continue the prayers. Rick has avoided the vomiting....we got him some Kaitrel or something like that....so he is hanging tough. Being right there holding her like her Papa always does. Hugs to you all! Sounds like the food issues continue---I promise you girls---it gets easier, it becomes normal dare I say? Kat

Hi everyone---once again, thank you more than I know how to say for the continued prayers for my family and my little Kinsey in particular. It seems that is was just an everyday gastro intestinal virus that was especially vicious, and contagious, as it has now taken 4 generations of us (my Mom is now sick) down in less than a week. No one else who was at the anniversary has been ill, so thankfully I did not poison everyone. Most of us have been hit hard, and recovered about as quickly, not so with Kinsey. Her case has left her with issues in the colon. Her colon is inflamed, and non reactive. It is not allowing food to enter, so there is no absorption taking place. She is failing, bit by bit, and they have continued to tell us to wait it out. Today, they finally decided maybe that isn't working---and we had a surgical consult. He sent off yet more specimans for culture....and if it warrants it, we will be flying her to either Albuquerque to the University Hospital, or to Denver to the Children's hospital, depending on what type of issue they think we are dealing with. They have downgraded her condition to critical. She bounces from sleeping, which we found out was caused by her blood sugar being below 40! To being so irritable as to not be recognizable--a screaming raging child....to one sobbing for food. It absolutely has broken my heart into a million, million pieces. She tells us point blank she is hungry, and asks for any and all kind of food she can think of...with giant tears in her big blue eyes....then she just goes limp, with the look of total dejection. She is 2, she does not understand why we keep letting them poke her, why we will not feed her....why we don't help her when she tells us her tummy hurts. She begs, Please Granny. And repeats "no pokes, no needles, please" everytime someone new enters the room. Add to this heartache (and it is TRUE heart ACHE), my DD's ex, Kinsey's father, is there trying as usual to be the funny man---and his mother an OR nurse at the hospital we are in, going behind everyones backs and putting down Dr.s and nurses, and questioning them and ultimately pissing them off--- and causing problems....I do not know which way to turn. The ex, and his Mom were arguing with my DD about whether the Dr. might want to run a blood test that might tell them about a disease that my DD's grandma on her Dads side had called Celiac Disease. The nurse dislikes the former MIL anyway, so ordered everyone except the 2 who have been staying the night with Kinsey out of the ward. Now this being said....the arguement was not loud, it was out of the room, and Kinsey is the ONLY patient in Peds. She saw it as a chance to get rid of Renee (former MIL) and did it. So we all were banished. My DD was there with her bf/fiance....they had not had a chance to eat...well we are fighting to get DD to eat, she refuses until her baby can eat....it is more than I know how to handle. Rick waited until shift change, and took some dinner to the hospital, and they were going to take turns going to the waiting room---I just don't think my DD is eating at all either---I keep telling her Kinsey needs her strong. It is very hard to put anything in your mouth knowing she is begging for the same. There were 3 nurses on the floor today, with Kinsey the only patient. At one point, she had a blow out---we had her in a diaper, due to this happening...but she went through the diaper, all over the bed, all over her Mama, her gown, the whole 9 yards. I sent my DD to change, and I proceeded to clean Kinsey up after telling the nurse. They were each on a computer comparing prices of the new Harry Potter book. I got Kinsey cleaned up, walked her out to the hall, found her a new gown in the shelf, took her in and dressed her. By then her Mama was back, and she sat down and held her, while I stripped the bed. I went walking out into the hall with this wad of smelly sheets and ask what they wanted me to do with them, she POINTED to a soiled linens hamper thing. Then she got up, walked to a closet, and handed me linens for the bed! They did not come in and disinfect the mattress----nor did she make the bed! I did. Our baby needed to lay down. They come in 2 times today and did vitals----nothing else. She is still casted, it was due to come off today, the nurse never mentioned to the Dr, we needed a ortho consult until after office hours---now she is stuck until Monday. They did not offer to help bathe her----NOTHING!!! Changed one bag of IV fluids....took 2 sets of vitals.....and surfed the net all day. Now this is the first day for this set of nurses....all of the other shifts, and sets of nurses we have had, have went out of their way to make us comfy, and help our little one in any way---today they were absolutely worthless. Tomorrow I intend on finding out who the nursing supervisor is, and filing a complaint. I have no way to make our baby better.....and I have emotions pent up that those worthless women know nothing about----but are fixing to find out about! While I am there seeing the supervisor or charge nurse or whoever....I will also mention, that we had Kinsey in a wagon pulling her around and around and around the 3rd floor......anythnig but her room, she was so tired of her room....and on one of our turns we passed the ICU entrance. There was a male nurse there Julian, who teased her every time she passed, he would hand her a new crayon.....then a piece of paper....and finally a stuffed doll (out of one of the claw grabber kind of machines it seems). She was so listless, but she would spark a little knowing we were coming up to where he was....he helped our day immensley....I will commend him, as I do my best to take the others down. Amanda said he even come by to tell her to get well, he was going on his 4 days off, and he hoped she was home and well before he come back to work. Her nurse.....never even walked into the room before she left. Thank you all for listening once again---all these things are boiling inside me. I am scared to death for Kinsey. Latching onto the anger I can control. The plan as it stands now is to begin introducing good bacteria into the system tomorrow...similar to what is found in yogurt. IF the tests do not show a total shut down. If they show a total failure, we are off to a bigger hospital for surgery. She has lost weight, she is under 17 pounds now. She doesn't show it much because she is really swollen from all of the IV fluids. They are also watching her blood sugars every 3 hours (which is just another poke----and was NOT done on schedule today), and adjusting the glucose in her IV. They finally gave her some Pepcid type of stuff in her IV for the acid in her stomach, since nothing is passing normally. She has complained less of her tummy hurting with that. And that is all----we wait now....and wait....and wait....and wait. I have my lap top, and I have connection. I just cannot sit in her room with these tears streaming down my face. You guys are my release in so many ways....thank you so much. I will let you know something as soon as I can. Please continue the prayers. Rick has avoided the vomiting....we got him some Kaitrel or something like that....so he is hanging tough. Being right there holding her like her Papa always does. Hugs to you all! Kat

I had just barely posted this when my DD called, they are headed back to ER with Kinsey, she is not holding even liquids down. She is so tiny----maybe 19 pounds.....she is 2 1/2 and little for her age, and she is losing weight she can ill afford to. Will keep you posted as I can, please keep praying....I am so scared. Kat

HI my friends--well we have Kinsey home---not sure that is a good thing, but it is where it stands. She cries that her belly hurts, even crying out owie owie owie in her sleep. She still cannot eat, without throwing it up, undigested. BUT insurance says with no other symptoms, it is time for her to be discharged. The second day there, my daughter come down with it, and spent several hours in ER, ending up back in ped's with Kinsey with an IV bag still attached. Later that night I went down with it. Today it was my Mom. Right in the middle of writing this to you my DD called they are headed back to ER, she can not even hold down liquids. She is losing precious weight. She is very tiny to start with, she is around 19 pounds normally, and has lost weight she can ill afford to. Please continue your prayers for her....I am scared beyond belief, they are not finding what her problem is, and she is just slipping. The rest of us are ok. We are trying to keep Rick from taking the bug, because vomiting could be deadly to him. So far he is hanging in there tho. I am off to the hospital. Please keep praying. Kat

Hi all, wanted to stop in and update you all. We got Kinsey out of the hospital finally. They say it is a stomach virus. Poor baby cries non stop that her belly hurts, and to peez make it better---just breaks your heart. The second day she was in, my DD (her Mommy) ended up in ER for IV fluids, she had it too. They gave her 2 bags, and sent her bag upstairs to Ped's with the 3rd one running. I come home that night and it hit me about 2 AM---knocked me on my hiney in a hurry! Today it took down my Mom. 4 generations levelled with it in days! As for Kinsey, she still cannot eat. But insurance says without other symtoms, she is to be discharged. If she doesnot imprve we can readmit her. I hate insurance companies poking their nose into whether or not she is well. Makes me furious! Anyway, I am up and around again, a bit worse for the wear....both physically and emotionally. I thank you all for your prayers, and well wishes. I need to go read up on everyone. I didn't want to take time before updating you, and thanking you.....You are ALL very special to me, remember me and my family while all of you are busy with your own, makes me feel very special!!! Thanks!!!! Kat

Hi girls---just here for a minute to ask that you please pray for my little granddaughter. They put her in the hospital last night. As soon as she began to move around, everything I had managed to get into her come up. They have her on IV now, and are watching her blood. The concern has turned from a gastro infection to a possibility of an intestinal blockage. Each time she takes anything by mouth it comes back up. The concerning issue is that she does not have any diarhea with the nausea, which is unusual, and is what is making them think possible blockage. Her name is Kinsey--she is 2 1/2, and she owns my heart----please remember her in your prayers. I will update you as soon as we know anything. Thanks --- I am so glad y'all are out there!! Kat