Kat817

Hi girls~ I'm home, Manda is home, and she is doing pretty good, she is still swollen, and her ear is one giant gooey sore.....but she is ok. I have a meeting tonight, so need to get things done for dinner, but I am sooooo lazy, it is pathetic! Had to reschedule my blood donation because it collided with Manda getting out of the hospital. They want me to go to the office and discuss plasma donation with them, since I am such a long term donor. I hear about the sell your plasma stuff on the radio all the time, but had never been talked to, and I don't think they "buy" it, they just take it!!! I dunno, I think if I am being poked that often, I would go for the compensation!!! Cheapskate that I am! Got the last bit of stuff in for our taxes today, so guess Monday we will get them done. I would use the online thing, but we have to have last years redone....over the child care credit thing, so prefer to have someone with more tax knowledge than me do it....of course that qualifies the neighbors dog! I am off to get wood brought in, and things done so I can get out of here on time tonight. I hate night time meetings, I never see my husband with them. How do people work those opposing schedules? I am complaining about 1 night! How is this for fair.....last week remember they laid off the first round of people. Starting Monday, they are bringing a crew in from out of town....because they picked up the Conoco Phillips work, and are short handed. Our local plant has not slowed down, but nationally it has, so ALL camps had to cut a certain percentage of their help. So they laid off the locals, so they could pay to bring in an outside crew and pay them wages, plus per diem, plus put them up in a nice motel. Idiots, absolute, total morons! Enough Rant.....see ya later!! Kat

They very well may not leave their pimps, I can't say, BUT it would give those wanting their services and option to use that is safer for them----you always hear about Johns getting the crap beat out of them too. Plus they would not be supporting the pimped out hookers. I know prostitutes are not the same thing as abused wives, but having been the abused wife, and never a prostitute, I know how hard it is to get out of the marriage safely. It has to be a similar situation, you find yourself in a no win place, and no options left for you. I realize that would not change for them. BUT it very well might make the next girl considering turning tricks for a living to take the legal way as opposed to being pimped. And it might make John Doe spend his paycheck where taxes will be taken out and he knows he can walk in, get some, and leave as opposed to doing so with the fear of arrest, or being jumped by the pimp and his guys. Is it ideal? No, not at all! But what it is now is not either..... Kat

I don't know, that might be something we would have to walk a mile in their stilettos to know. The ones who are being beat by a pimp, and turning over all their money---might see how even paying that to the gov't. and not getting smacked would be better. And if it were legal, it might "draw" a whole different group of women... Kat

We made it to and from the hospital, and have been doing laundry and playing in the yard! She played, and I did my facebook stuff so my friend would leave me alone! LOL---I kept telling her I would, then didn't. So now I did! Manda is doing good. The MRSA test is negative--Thank You God! IN fact her white count is dropping steadily, and hopefully she will come home in the morning. Getting dinner done early----has been a lazy day. Kinsey did ok at the hospital, she did not stop asking questions from the time we got there til....well she still hasn't stopped! She wanted to stop and eat, I told her no, we would eat when we got home. So we come home, and I made a bowl of chicken salad, and added some sunflower seeds because she loves them....she took a bite on a cracker and tells me "No wonder we didn't eat at Burger King, they don't cook this good!" One of the other frac companies locally----Weatherford, is closing up. They are keeping wireline etc. open, but the frac dept. is gone. They began with over 200 employees, and laid off the last 45 yesterday. I told Rick I don't know how to look at it, on one hand it is a sign of things to come, on the other hand, someone has to do the work that they are opening up, so maybe it is good news for him. Who knows?? Well I am going to go help the kiddo write "n". She is struggling with them. She decided she did not need to write her name she would just say it! Kat

I was not so shocked by how hard it is to get someone committed....but by how easy it is for someone to get them out! My DH's ex, is mentally unstable when she stops her meds, or self medicates other substances with them. Her last committment was because God told her (she talks to him only when wearing a special hat!) to take out the Episopalian Church, beginning with her parents, and she was stopped by our kids and found with a loaded shotgun. The cops finally had enough when she kept insisting on laying her hand on their forehead to baptise them!!! But within 4 hours her current DH and enabler in all ways had her out......her parents on the other hand had to stay in hiding for days!!! My Mom would have had something to say long before I had 6 kids, if I was not paying my way. If I was, she would still have her say!!! But move in with her and my Dad? laughable~~ one of us would have definitely been committed by now, and I consider my Mom one of my closest friends, and love her dearly. Just all that much more, when she is in her house and I am in mine! Kat

There are several programs on TV about large families, the one where all the kids are named with names beginning with a J---the Jon & Kat Plus 8.....but thedifferences are big, make that HUGE!!! In the family with 18 kids, if you watch them, it is much of the time the older kids taking care of the younger! It is not going to be so with a 7 year old being able to take care of 8 infants! Then with the Jon & Kate crew, they are a couple, and even with the 2 of them, they have outside help! They openly admitted that the show allows them to clothe and feed their brood. There have been others I have seen---my DD when she was pregnant (with one!) watched these things all the time!!! So when she was here, we watched it a lot! But in all of the others I have seen, the kids age range was much bigger, and provided a lot of help. With other multiples that made news like the McCaughey (sp???) septuplets, some of them still have medical issues, and when they are interviewed on TV, they will say how much of a struggle it has been. In the cases of the big families without multiples, seem to be based on religious beliefs in having however many God blesses you with. Where I live there are many older Hispanic families with 12-18 kids. They were and many are still Catholics who did not believe in any form of birth control. But most of them are of my parents age, and the family paid its own way! No welfare! No TV programs or free food or diapers.... As for the families with multiples, all of the others that have been in the news did news conferences, and the Dr.'s were there, right along with the happy--all the while being overwhelmed--parents. I remember the McCaughey Mom in her hospital gown at her first news conference. Seems they are all of a more sound background, and were not ashamed of their choices. To hide, makes it seem as tho this Mom and family are. And that in and of itself is a shame. Will be interesting to hear it play out as for the medical side of things. I know people who would give anything to be able to try IVF---but it is not in the budget....BUT neither would 8 kids at one time be! Kat

Well, I didn't even mean the ones who never want commitment, just that men (and women) have different moods, different needs at different times, and having the option open to them legally would simply be an option. But you make a good point.....as that does happen!!! Kat

I have been married for lots of years (most of them to the same man even!) With as much time as we have been together, I can sense moods in him, much as I can my own. Sex is a great stress relief, and many times, that is all you want it for, it feels good, it makes you relax, and that is IT! You don't want all the give and take of a mating dance! If you are single, you have the option of self gratification or "doing the dance"---finding someone, buying dinner, drinks etc. and hoping they are of similar mind!!! Being able to go and legally have sex simply for the sake of having sex, without all the other stuff, makes sense to me. Even married, as I say there are nights I can tell that is all he wants, he doesn't want candlelight and romance, he wants sex for the sake of sex, and there is nothing wrong with that.....women are the same way! Kat

Well that does make me feel better, I mean a piece and a half of pizza is way better than the whole thing!!! I imagine you could be swelling overnight, if your pouch is full, and your stomach has to work all night. I was always told to Eat Breakfast like a King, lunch like a Prince and dinner like a Pauper. Which gives you all day to help work off your biggest meal. But life and jobs and all make that schedule impossible to follow! I do my best to make sure I eat dinner early enough. In my case, if I eat too late, I reflux--always have, it isn't band related. Anyway, about an hour before I plan to go to bed, I drink a large glass of Water. Yes it does make me get up in the middle of the night, but it also flushes my pouch, so it is empty through the night. Maybe try that? Looks like you are going to have to be a scientist, and experiment a little and see what works for you. Problem is.....what works for you today, might be different tomorrow!!! Did you look into the 5 day pouch test? I am seriously thinking of doing a jump start and doing it again. I have been unfilled for almost a year, I had a couple of surgeries this year, and am now on steroids, and fighting like hell to keep the weight off. Thinking a reminder course may be in order! Kat

Good morning~ I just got off the phone with Manda, and the Dr. said she is looking better, she said she thinks it looks the same, but he said after another 24 hours she will notice a big change. No more gowning up and all, she is in regular ward since she has been on the antibiotics for over 24 hours. My Mom and Dad are up there, Rick is going by as well, I am trying to keep things a little more normal for the girl. Since she is in regular ward, I am going to let them get the morning blood draw and all out of the way and then Kinsey and I will go by this afternoon. I finally slept last night. It was a relief to know she was somewhere she could be watched, and her pain was being dealt with. So I finally got sleepy about midnight, and I crashed! Kinsey let me sleep til about 8:30, and I feel sooooo much better! She is watching the movie Underdog, and she is giggling, and loving the talking dog!! TracyKS, I agree that your degree of worry should be based on the color of the blood---bright red is fresh, so is likely hemmies......darker reddish brown to black is intestinal. Least that is what they told my DD during her pregnancy just a couple of months ago. Sorry, it's not like TOM isn't enough!!! I am going to go give them my blood tomorrow.....Rick's work is having a blood drive, we are both signed up. Pamela, your problems would seem big to me too!!! I once had a warrant issued to me for a book they said I didn't return to the library! SERIOUSLY~~the closest I ever came to being arrested was over a book costing $13.95!!! That when I swore up and down was returned, they decided to let me come in and talk to them about it, and during the conversation an aide looked, and lo and behold, there it was filed in the correct place on the shelf, without the sign out card in it! For you young'uns---they used to have a pocket in the back cover of a book, and you signed it, they kept the card, put it back in the book when you returned the book, and reshelved it. When they had the card, they began fining me----but I had moved. When I moved back, and went to get Manda and I library cards again, they had an address on me. The Chief of Police in our little town called my Mom (she worked in the same City offices) and told her he had a warrant for my arrest, did she want to talk to me and handle it without an officer??? OMG, I thought my Mom was going to croak, and then we find out it was a library book!!! So I went to talk to them in the library before turning myself in! I was SOOOOOOOOOO mad, I made my Mom walk over (all in the same city complex) and get Leroy, the police chief, so he could see for himself it was sitting on the shelf! And back then they had no computer to blame it on!!! Sorry your diss is being made to take on a new direction. Do you think she is right? Wish I could help you.....but you want it to be good!!! LOL TracyK, glad your eye is getting better. I too would be sanitizing everything! And if she so much as rubbed her eye I would be dousing it with meds!!! Of course when someone has pink eye around me, mine just start itching in sympathy I guess. Heck my head itches to watch a lice commercial, and I have never had them to know if they itch or not!!! Guess I should get up and clean house---it is pretty bad!!! Been on the back burner during all this. Think I will go live with Haydee, I want a vacation!! I am glad you and Juan are getting to go to the seminar/classes that you wanted to. I'll catch the rest of you, and update later--------HUGS to all!! Kat

Have you tried keeping a log of how you can eat and when? For instance, if you are having a problem eating time, is it pain upon the first bite? When you can eat what is obviously too much at a sitting, do you feel it backing up into the esophagus? Are any of your fills done under fluoroscopy so you can see if the pouch or esophagus is stretched at all? If you get terrible pain upon your first bite, you might be experiencing some esophageal spasms. They can be helped sometimes by taking a small sip or 2 of very warm liquid (water, coffee, tea) prior to beginning to eat. Have you considered doing the 5 day pouch test, to remind yourself how much your pouch should be holding, and how to properly chew the food again. It is something that is not a bad thing to do, it is not really hard, and is a GREAT reminder of how we should be eating. I would keep a detailed log for say 2 weeks, then take it with me, and sit down with my Dr. and nutritionist if you use one, and try to figure it out. Because if you can eat an entire pizza--there is something wrong! That could be that you are stretching the pouch, or washing it through with drinking as you eat.....be sure to log everything, and be honest. That is my downfall----the honesty!! When I am honest with myself, I usually find my own issues!! LOL, hate it when I do that!!! Good Luck, these bands ARE fickle that is for sure! Kat

Hi girls~ Been a crappy few days. My DD is not well. She got an ear infection, and the glands below her ear and just behind it swelled like nobodies business. She has been to the ER 3 times, only managed to get seen once, and he made her an appointment with an ENT, for next week. She was supposed to come back if 2 days on steroids, and antibiotics and pain killers did not help. They didn't, it swelled more, and moved up into her ear itself, the cartilege outer part is swollen, oozing, and now black, and the skin has broke down. Well as we sat in ER again, I saw my own ENT, he saw her...because he didn't know what else to do with a crying Mom! She has staph infection, and is not good. The area below and behind her ear is like a rock, and so swollen, she does not even have a jaw line. She hurts, and they are concerned, as she is also septic. And the concern is the proximity of the brain to the infection. Kinsey is handling it better than I expected, her Mama being sick. Manda is such a good Mommy, she does everything she can to make sure Kinsey is ok, and not too stressed. I have hives on my hives. Went to get Ricks heart meds, and insurance changed their formulary the first of the year, and his meds went from $40 a month with insurance, to insurance not covering them so now it is $174 every 30 days! I called and he even went and saw his PCP here today, and he refuses to change the cardiologists orders, so somehow, somewhere, some day we are going to have to try to get an appointment, and get to Albuquerque to his cardiologist and see what can be done. It is 186 miles each way....with my DD sick, we are just going to have to deal with it for now. His job did the first round of lay offs, and we managed to survive, but figure we are looking at a couple of weeks max. And they are not offering any severence packages at all---cheap ass company! They are HUGE and world wide.....and corrupt as the day is long. Claim to be all about family....such BS!!! Anyway----I'll be in when I need to destress!!! Y'all take care!!! XOXOXO Kat

Grandma: Octuplets mom obsessed with having kids - Yahoo! News According to this article, Mom was obsessed with having kids NOT raising them. Sounds to me as though she has a mental issue, and the one good thing that might come of all the attention, is that it might actually get the children help. The first 7 might have slipped through the cracks otherwise. I think the one common denominator among everyone here is that everyone feels for the kids, no one blames them! Discussing the outrageous nature of this story does not mean that we don't care about the innocent children and the possible issues they face in their future. Ironically the fact that there ARE 8 living children may be the one thing that saves them, by garnering the attention they have. Had she had another 2 or 3, heck even quads, they too would have probably been ignored, and she might have went on to have even more! She definitely sounds like there is some sort of mental illness pushing her along. But then again, my Mom would not have sat back and said or done nothing when she was helping support me and my 6 kids, when I come home and said I was pregnant again and there were 7 more! They did not know about #8 I guess until delivery. My Mom would have had me commited, in all seriousness. She would have recognized it as a problem, not just ignored it! Kat

Thanks girls--- Manda is sleeping. Her direct boss who is an awesome guy is gone on vacation for a week, his replacement was a jerk to her, and is telling her that her being at work all last week has put the company in serious jeopardy, that if anyone caught it from her it could be bad. She was so upset! She emailed her boss, and he called her back, and told her to quit worrying, he would deal with them, and that she had no idea, so how could they hold her responsible?? He was sweet to her, his wife told her to just rest and let Kurt deal with them!! Rick's Dr. was ok, he did not even want to discuss changing the cardio's Rx.....so in the end it was a waste of the $30 co pay. Oh well we tried. Judy, I do live in a small town. We have a couple of local Dr.'s here, but no hospital facilities. Our town is around 6000 people. We go to the town over, about 12 miles, it is in the neighborhood of 75-80 thousand. Our issue comes from our proximity to the reservation. They do not have hospitals, they have medical centers, that are very poorly staffed. They are guaranteed treatment at no cost, as Indian Health Services covers their bills when they are seen. So this county hospital which is our only option as for a hospital here is ALWAYS packed. The other option is to go to Durango CO--where it too is packed with the same issues, just simply a different tribe. We have Navajos in ours here, and Utes at the hospital in Durango. If there is ANYTHING remotely serious I now believe the only way to get in and be seen is to go by ambulance. I am going to go paint Kinsey's fingernails, I think she is stressed too. Thanks for all the hugs and good wishes Love you all! BBL~ Kat

Hi girls~ Manda is not doing well. The neck under and behind her right ear is so swollen, she has no jaw line, it is hard as a rock...looks like golf ball size knots up and down that gland. She spent hours in ER the other night, only to NEVER get in. There was a murder with others injured near the hospital, and multiple drunks with injuries, and ambulances pulling in right and left.....so she was there for close to 6 hours with not being seen. So yesterday she showed up at Becky's and OMG---made this mama cry. Her ear is turning black. No one will help her! Beck and I took her back to the ER. There is standing room only. We waited in line for 40 minutes to register her, and be told it would be up to 2 hours before the triage nurse even made it to her. So we put her in the car and drove her to Durango 50 miles from the first hospital, to have the same story pretty much repeated. They told us it would be several hours. I guess the flu and assorted illness is the issue, there were sick kids EVERYWHERE! She kept saying she would wait til this morning. We went back to Becky's house, figuring we would hang for an hour and go to the hospital and take up our place in line. We were sitting on the couch I was rubbing the back of Manda's neck and she is feverish, and big tear are just running down her cheeks. She kept wiping them away so Kinsey wouldn't see. She was hurting like crazy and scared. So we went back, and it was still another 25 minutes before they called her. She went in and was looked at, had her vitals taken, and was put in the line up by the triage nurse, and sent back to the waiting room. While we were sitting there, this Dr. that did my thyroid surgery walked through, he is an ENT---- I hollered at him! I could tell at first he was thoroughly pissed over it! I think my tears may have softened him, or he recognized me or something, anyway he stopped at the counter where the security guard sits and listened to me, I waved Manda over, his eyes got BIG! Told her he did not want to examine it without gloves. Said he would see her in a few minutes. Finally got her into a treatment room, we thought alright, we will get something done now! Which we did, but still nothing moved fast. He didn't want to drain it without knowing what it was, so he cultured it, and sent it off STAT for culture....because he suspected it was staph infection. Took 2 hours----during which time the Dr. removed 6 pennies from a childs sinus cavity.....inserted through his nose I guess! He come back, told her not to get comfortable, she had staph infection in her neck and she was septic. She was admitted early this morning. The skin is breaking down on her ear it is so swollen, she may end up losing part of it. I am SOOOOOOO upset, she went and tried and tried to get help! She has insurance, and she had money, and just no one would take it serious! Now she is in serious danger! Her hands and feet, and face are all terribly swollen, she looks like she did when she delivered Kinsey, she had pre eclampsia really bad and was VERY swollen. I just come home to shower, and to go with Rick to his Dr. We are hoping with actually seeing him, and maybe he will call and confer with the cardiologist and change Rick's Rx. They are keeping Manda pretty sedated. One for the pain, and two, it slows the blood flow, and allows the antibiotics to be more efficient the nurse said. So I thought I would let her sleep for a couple of hours. Her MRSA test results will be back this afternoon. Right now, as a precaution she is in a sterile room. Full wash and gown before entering and upon leaving. Which means as of now, Kinsey has not been allowed to see her Mommy. She is ok so far, we have kept her occupied. She went to breakfast with Becky and her grandson. Now she is with my Mom. Later today depending on what we hear, we will decide how to handle her. I want her to see her Mommy, but not at risk to her too. Anyway......no sleep, extreme stress, and I have hives to beat all. Which is not a good thing in a sterile environment, they do not want to see me scratching I bet! So....will check in as I can....and keep everyone updated. My cell phone is totally dead, and is not taking a charge, so Rick said he would take care of it. When we are together it is fine, he has his and we can be reached, but I HAVE to be able to be reached tomorrow when he goes back to work. Sorry I didn't take time to read up. Will catch up soon! XOXOXO Kat

((((((((TracyK)))))))))) Just seems like you need a big hug honey!!! Hope your eye and your neck like your new home, and get better quickly! Don't forget to get us a change of address!! Pamela----OUCH! So this is centered on your upper back? I think it will look great colored the way you say....and I saw the violets right off the bat! I showed Rick, he said "Holy Shit" and yes that is a direct quote!! He ask if that was what I was planning to get in TX. I laughed and said nope!!! I was talking a little one inch square violet on my foot!!! LOL I am not that brave! I will say I think your butterfly needs a viking hat with braids!! LMAO!!! We are going to Becky & Gary's today. Their grandsons birthday party at one then flow right into the superbowl. Becky about blew a gasket when her DIL planned his birthday! She set the party at 4:30 today! Beck & Gary have an annual Superbowl party--they have the most space, and parking area---we all bring food, and it is BYOB, so she doesn't have all the work herself. We set 4 TV's up---one in the LR, one in the Den, one in the Kitchen and one on the deck! Well her DIL ignores her plans, and plans the little guys birthday. DIL has a large, family. They are extremely rude (everyone but her brother, and he is a super nice guy!), and they come in to a room like they own it. They help themselves to drinks from the fridge etc. Becky said one of them was even found going through the medicine cabinet looking for Tylenol they said. Well with all the medical they have had (back and neck surgeries) they have lots of narcotics, so they keep a tote in their bedroom closet on a top shelf with ALL medications away from where Ray can reach. Nosy is just skimming the surface! So she knows they will come and stay and expect to eat all the food that others bring. So we got kind of creative/hateful!!!!!! We made goal posts out of wrapping paper tubes, and put on each end of the table, and plan to cover it completely during the birthday party.....and we are using crepe paper streamers to tape off the kitchen during the party!!! We are trying to find in our stashes of stuff, things to make yellow penalty flags, and tie them to the streamers----to make it more obvious that it is not ONE party! Like she said, all HER friends know what the issue is, she has been "venting" openly!!! And if DIL's family doesn't feel welcome and feels offended, they are free to leave!! I made a pot of posole, sausage queso dip, with mini tacos, and rolled tacos for dipping----and DEATH BY chocolate dessert! It is like an artery block in a bowl!!! Brownies, chocolate pudding, white chocolate pudding, toffee bits, chocolate syrup, chocolate crumbles, and topped with whipped cream, more toffee and chocolate curls. None of it seriously tempted me. UNTIL----I was melting the chocolate for the curls and it seized on me, made a crumbled mess. So I wasn't too putout, figured I would just layer it in, and no one would know, and I made the mistake of tasting it.........mmmmmm!!!! It might not look pretty, but it tasted yummy!!!! Anyway....Better get my gameface on, and get back out and help Beck. I am cheering for the Cardinals, but am not die hard for either side. I actually like both Quarterbacks---and I can't say that about many in the NFL!!! I have pics of Rick with Rothslisberger (SP???) at a parade in Denver years ago!!! He was really nice, posed with people, never acted like a big shot. I sent Pamela a pretty interesting piece on Warner, since she stated her team!!! So will be one of those years, I am just hoping for a good time, won't pout regardless who wins! I do always feel sorry for the losing team....they look so sad. And then I think.....sure am glad I don't have to go home with one of them tonight! Talk about a grouch!! See y'all later!!! XOXOX Kat

For years when our son or one of the boys would act tough, my DH referred to them as Billy Bad Ass. Then when I got my band, and it was showing me who was boss....he laughingly referred to it as Billy Band Ass......and to this day it is Billy! Kat

There are low profile ports available for other bands besides the Realize. Mine is a BioEnterics by Inamed (Allergan)--the 9.75 ml. band designed to hold 4cc.'s max of saline. I had it put in in April of 2006, along with a low profile port. I can now feel my port if I push. However, my SIL who was banded by the same Dr. the same day I was, has ALWAYS been able to feel her port, and can actually feel the ridges, and where exactly the injection area is! Hers is very prominent. It cannot be seen through clothes, or even without---but can be felt without issue. Both of our bands are just a few inches below our breasts and just to the left of center. I have one friend who her port is clear down at waist level, and can find hers if pushed--similar to mine. And yet another friend with her port on the left side just below her rib cage and hers is like my SIL's and very easy to feel. Neither of my friends has a low profile, they have the larger ports. It does not bother me to have it there. There are things I have done that it has caused twinges. Not to be a TMI thing, but some sexual positions make me notice it. And leaning over the trunk....when the cans inevitably roll out of the bags and into the depths of the trunk, I ALWAYS tweak it then!! My grandson when he was small would want to jump on me, and he would find it! But it is not a pain that continues when you quit---just remove the pressure and the pain goes away. The band itself I don't "feel" other than to know when I have over filled the pouch, then I know something is physically stopping the food! Not something I ever worry about....I love my band!!! Welcome to LBT! Kat

Heather the post has been reported....not sure what they want to do with it, I have chose to let someone else deal with it! Just the mood I am in!!! It is pretty accurate for the TT. I agree it should only be in the PS area. And it is a good pic to have....over there, because it IS accurate. But I agree with it being overly graphic for a home page! There is no way in hell I would have allowed my picture to be taken nekkid like that following my TT. I did take pics in bikini panties---for MY own comparisons! But post them on the www not a chance!!! Kat

Carrie I get what you are saying, and during court no he had no remorse what so ever! He claimed to have found God later. I have serious belief it was when some big Bubba sodomized him just like he did Kara. THEN he was sorry and "found God" and just like that it goes away. BS! I may be one of the ones left behind that Patty refers to, because I don't care to be in heaven with all that scum if they are there! They may have begged forgiveness from God, he may have granted it. They may beg forgiveness from the family....and some families may give it. Key word...some. I don't see how any God or any human can just erase the slate and have an evil like that just be gone. It makes it hard to believe sometimes.....so I do the best I can. I live my life in a way that I feel is the best way I can. For me, and for the world around me. I do not harm others. I do my best to help others when I can. When you do something wrong, without realizing it was a mistake, or it is something you learn from, in most cases I can move on from it. But not all things. This man was not stupid. He held a decent job, he was obviously not sane or he never would have done that----but he had been in trouble before, so he knew better...as did his Mom know better than to have him there. He knew how to hide what he was doing---in order to know to hide it, he knew it wasn't right. Her Mom, she says she wants to forgive him, because she wants to believe in all she was taught as she grew up. She wants to believe her little girl was taken someplace beautiful, and without pain. But all these years later, she worries that her own inability to forgive is keeping her DD from resting in peace. Her priest told her something along the lines. For a religious leader to allow someone in such pain to continue to suffer, because of her inability to forgive someone who hurt her child is beyond comprehension to me. Those sent to supposedly teach us, are the very ones who make some of us question our beliefs. Kat

I use a different surgeon for my fills than did my surgery. Not due to any issues with my surgeon, but do to my own problems here in the US-------I have a common name, and share a birthdate with someone who is "on a list" somewhere, and it has given me hell getting my passport! So I have used the surgeon I originally planned to use prior to insurance delays back when I was researching banding. He charges me for every fill. There is no guarantee. Now if he filled me and within a reasonable time line I needed some removed, he would do that without additional charge....but that is it. It is not strictly a Fill Centers policy, my Dr. is not affiliated with them in any way, and he does the same thing. Do I wish he would fill me for less? Sure! But it is the way it was when we originally spoke and he agreed to do my follow up care. It was not sprung on me---I knew going in, this was going to be part of it. I am sure they would not lose money doing a free fill. Especially surgeons themselves, who are also making $$$ on the operation itself. But they don't all do that. The fact is they don't have to. Fills are not an exact science.....what works for one is not the immediate answer for the next. To expect him to "know" what I need is unreasonable, it is something together we will just figure out, and if I have to pay to do that, then that is part of being banded. If I take my clothes to the dry cleaners, and when I get them they either have too much starch or too little------they don't redo them for free. And it took a lot less $$$$ for them to train as a dry cleaner than it did for my surgeon to go to school. Would be nice if banding was a one time charge and all upkeep from then on was included, and with some Dr.'s it is. With others it isn't. We all had a choice from the beginning where we went, and what the policies were. I chose mine, now I pay for it. That is just how it is. Kat

That made no sense, I lost my train of thought.....the man sat in court and smiled and when they mentioned anything about the child he licked his lips and leered. He was so unbelievably smug acting to the family....he even wiggled his eyebrows when things were said. He deserves NO forgiveness, I don't care who he asks, who or what he believes now.....I know I am not supposed to judge, but in my opinion he bought his ticket to hell that day with no refunds! Kat

Years ago, when living in a large city in TX -- the little girl my DD played with in our apt. complex was killed. The man raped her, sodomized her, and tortured her for 2 days before killing her---which happened before he intended but she suffocated while he was trying to muffle her screams. I sat in court and watched her family die a thousand deaths hearing the things about their innocent 5 year old child (who I have never EVER doubted or questioned whether she would go to heaven...that is a given) being hurt over, and over and over. And all the while, the man an adult son of a woman who lived in the apt. complex--he was staying in her place for the summer, as it was too humid for her there. Did she know (Mom) that he had a record of sexually abusing children? Yep! Did she care? Nope! But she begged the court and God for leniency. And last time I spoke with my friends, they had attended his parole hearing to listen to them all go on about how he had reformed his life, and he told them he found God. I just hope you are wrong. I hope God is smarter than that! I lived it on the outside, and cannot imagine the rage intesified with it being your own child. I know without a doubt that would turn me against religion to think that even God would forgive a monster like that. That is too black and white...... Kat

Patty the last line in your post is one that seriously causes me problem. I can see if I steal a candy bar or even a bike as a kid, being forgiven, when forgiveness is ask for. I can see the same forgiveness when I covet something belonging to my neighbor. BUT a man rapes a child and kills them, and "finds" religion in prison, and asks for forgiveness? No way. That child was not given a chance. I have issues with the whole idea that ALL will be forgiven ALWAYS just for the asking. And yes I know you mean that you have to have seriously given your life over to the Lord, and ask for forgiveness. I'm thinking that might be pretty easy in prison. Kat

They have been known to give all sorts of people shows......the good, the bad and the ugly! Ozzie The Kardashians (sp?) Danny Bonaduce Chachi gets married All the intervention shows with the stars..... And many of them had bad press prior to the shows--all this woman and her 14 kids need is a good PR person to spin it, and some network would buy it. I mean they have bad press and here we are talking about it! So they figure all those who buy the Enquirer and other mags will likely watch at least a few episodes... Wouldn't surprise me. Wouldn't be something I watch--but wouldn't surprise me! Kat