Kat817

It would probably be worth a call to your surgeon/Dr. There are several anti nausea meds they could call in to a pharmacy for you. Some are Patches to be worn behind the ear. Others can be done by suppository---options other than by mouth which sometimes only goes down to come back up. Til then just try the tiniest of sips, to keep yourself hydrated. Be sure to wait a few minutes between sips, to make sure you do not back Fluid up. Changing positions frequently and moving will help with the gas pain, but it might cause the nausea to worsen. Just make sure you DO move. Even if it is to just raise your legs, and make circles with your feet---do not lay immobile for long periods, you just had surgery and blood clots are the enemy!! When you do get up to walk, try to stand as upright as possible and keep your eyes open, it will help some with the nausea. Hope your Dr. can get you some meds....sorry you are having a rough go of it! Kat

Keep your strength up green and don't give up! They said, and did say for 2 years mine had spread to the bone---and technically I guess it did. I have 2 still active tumors. One in my fibula of my right leg (the smaller shin bone) and one in the right mastoid (a honeycomb of bony structure behind your ear.) I have them scanned every 6 months--no change in the 5 + years since they appeared. They still show up as active. There was at one point one in my clavicle (collar bone)--and a spot they saw on my spine--but in all the scans done in the last 5 years the only ones who still show active and glow like crazy on the scans are in my leg and the mastoid. I am injected with radioactive isotopes then scanned and at one point it looked like many spots! Now for years the same 4 places glow----injection site, bladder, and the 2 tumors. It has NOT won---I DID....and YOU will too!!!!! Kat September was my 5 year mark.....but with these present they will not give me the CURED word! That is ok, I took it anyway!!!

Nope Beth, not you at all, there are some posters that as soon as they enter a thread, I usually just leave....there is no such thing as a civilized conversation, something is found wrong with every comment I make, and one can try until they are blue in the face, and nothing will change, except my blood pressure and attitude. I finally decided it is my right not to deal with that person. It does not make me afraid of them, or less intelligent or less able to argue with them. But I am happy with me the way I am, and refuse to be made feel less by them, and when I allow them to do that, they win. So I choose not to deal with them. I divorced someone like that to not be around them, I will be damned if I CHOOSE to stay and argue with another hard headed legend in their own mind type of person! I do find it kind of amusing sometimes to bait the conversation-------but not today! Not in discussions that are so close to ones heart. A debate about whether the body goes into a starvation mode when calories are cut severely is one thing. To make light of and belittle ones faith simply because they have none of their own is selfish and to me says that deep down this person does believe or they would simply leave. And to question is to believe on a level.....But no it is more fun to spread hate and discontent.....which is VERY common place for the poster I prefer to avoid. So I left........good luck in there! Kat

I'm up.....and all my parts are covered! Wouldn't callit dressed, cuz they are jammie pants--but it was enough to cover me so I could go out and get the paper!!! Lamp is great Laura!! Manda just redid Kinsey's room.....the way Kinsey wanted it for the first time! Kinsey found a comforter she wanted, it is light purple with Monkeys and stars all over it, she loves monkeys. So when they made their move, she bought it and did Kinseys room up in it, and left her old set, on her bed, and her room in tact at her Daddy's. She took a set of purple rope lights, and went around behind the frame of a picture she bought that had monkeys swinging on stars. The frame she put it in, flares out, so the rope lights are behind it, and cannot be seen but they cast a glow---and she uses them in place of a night light. Then last week we were in the mall, and she saw these monkeys in the dollar store----long skinny ones whose arms velcro at the hands so they hang. They had them in all shades of pink and purple for Valentines Day I guess. So she bought a variety of the purple, lavender, and brown ones, and then bought cheap ivy vines, and hung them across the ceiling with monkeys hanging on them. She had put the glow in the dark stars on her ceiling when she bought the picture----so now in the day you see the monkeys and at night the stars! Her apt. had light purple curtains already hung in the room Kinsey has! Manda added a roll up shade, that she had fabric glued a couple of monkeys to. So it is pretty cute, and Kinsey thinks she did it herself--because she picked out all the components! We were going to go to the movie today and see the Benjamin Button movie finally--but I looked and saw where tomorrow it is the Monday Dollar movie--so figured WTH I will save the money and we will go tomorrow, he is off both days! So today I think is going to find me snugged down in the recliner with a book....mmmmmm We have leftover chicken enchiladas so I don't even plan to cook! Wellllllll as I typed that I thought if I save the leftovers for tomorrow I won't have to cook after the movie---or before depending on when we go. So maybe I will make something simple today. Rick needs me to go help hold something he is hanging in the shop---------so will catch y'all later! Kat

In the hospital huh LJM? You know orgasm is one of the best ways to start labor........ Loaded brownies a couple times in my distant past....guess the part I enjoyed the most was the brownies!! Would still choose the brownies if given a choice!!! Food was always my drug of choice I guess, even before I got fat! We had plans to go to a movie today, but postponed them til tomorrow, so I think I have a date with the easy chair and a book!!! Oh and staying away from the prostitution thread, before I get pissy!!! Have a good one everybody!! Kat

Hi Peggy, I am not extremely computer literate myself---but there is help out there! If you will go to the top of the Lap Band Talk page, click on Forum---and it will take you to a page where all the posts are separated into categories. Go down the the catogory titled LBT Suggestions, Questions & Updates. Click on that. It will open another page with all the threads that have been started under that topic. At the top of all those threads are ones called Sticky's. Sticky's are helpful information to very frequently ask questions--------including yours!!! There is a tutorial help for getting a ticker right there about the 4th one down.....click on it, and it will open a page detailing where to go, and how to cut and paste the info over here for you to get your ticker. Good Luck to you! There is also an area for Frequently ask questions up higher on the forum page that will give you tons of amazing advice and support as you head in to your pre op diet and on to surgery. It is an exciting time, and the more you know going into it the better off you will be!!! Welcome to LBT! Kat

It is called Omnipaque--it is a higher viscosity Fluid than saline--kind of like Slime you put in bike tires!!! Only if it does leak out inside you it is safe! It is not a silicone type thing as someone once said on here. My Dr. always pulls what is in my band out, and then adds to it....but I understand not all do. So it might well benefit you to ask for a look see at what is in there. But where you are is not a big deal at not having restriction yet. With all these people here on LBT, and many more I know in person, I have yet to meet anyone who lost 100 pounds in 6 months, and retained their health! If your DH has not seen you, the 40 pounds will be a remarkable change! PLUS you do have until April, and if the next fill or 2 takes you to a sweet spot, you will be amazed how you sail on from there. Kat

I have the small band, and found restriction with only 1.75 cc.'s--but I also know people who have the small band and have it to almost 5cc's which IS possible, and are good with it there. Most take in the neighborhood of 3 I understand, so you have plenty of room to go. Sneaking up on restriction is definintely the way to go as opposed to one or 2 giant fills that cause you to swell and react. Sounds like another one or 2 tweaks and you will be there! Dr.'s usually either use one certain band that they prefer, or some decide based on the persons anatomy when they get in and look around. If your stomach is smaller in size, and it must be, if you are pinching down on the small size without totally blocking off, then it seems it was a good choice for you. There are plenty of people on here who have had 8 fills or more, to get it just right. Keep working at it! I worried that my stomach must have a huge store of fat on it, for such a small amount to restrict me so much---but it is what it is! I am working on it---and it was a slow go for me---but well worth it. If your portions are less now, then it sounds as tho it IS working, you just need a bit more! My first fill was 6 weeks post op and was 1.25cc.'s and like you I ate a bit less, and had to slow down some, but no real restriction, so I went back 4 weeks later, and he only gave me .50cc's. One half a cc?? I was so mad, and some on here said he was cheating me that Inamed reccommends bigger fills etc. So I called and ask! He said he had found sneaking up with small fills to be better, because of the swelling issue. He has me do the remainder of the day and the next on liquids, so I did, but I was still mad, it cost me to get that half a cc! Well the next morning, I grabbed my usual yogurt & granola, and I could only barely get down 3 bites! I had restriction like you cannot imagine from that little half a cc! I thought it was a fluke, but I could not eat more than a few bites! Then I got worried! I was not getting enough food in for proper nutrition! So I faithfully took my Vitamins, and really tried to eat GOOD food----and slowly my stomach shrunk even more so that my restriction was not so tight, and has remained fairly loose as I lost the rest of my weight. But I am telling you from my experience, the tiniest of fills can be the magic! For me it happen fast, but it sounds like you are close---so don't give up! The fills will work! I have been unfilled since last April. To begin with for a TT---then I ended up with intestinal surgery, and am now waiting for a fill, which I need desperately--but my Dr. is 6 hours away over several mountain passes which are snow packed right now, so I am struggling to maintain without a fill. So I feel your pain of dieting even tho I have a band! Hang in there, and try another couple of fills, you still have plenty of fill room left in that band! Let us know how it goes!! Kat

The way I choose to live my life, is not detailed on a certain religion. I admittedly am not as well read or studied in religion as many, or most on this thread. I have no need to define myself as either being of a certain religion or lacking in and being an athiest, or even riding the line as an agnostic. I do feel that living with certain attitudes, that are most often described as christian attitudes, makes our lives and the lives of those around us better. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Living this way does not make me a Christian....it does make my life better. And makes me a better human in general. I was lucky and grew up in a wonderful family, I was not abused, every effort was made to give me a great life. Therefore I do choose to honor my Father and my Mother. Because of what THEY did--not because of it being a commandment. When you help others it in turn helps you. I do not believe in the same way as many, if not most people, but I am not going to distribute petitions saying they cannot salute the flag, or say a prayer before a high school football game. If I choose to sit in the stands and ask God to protect the kids on the field and watch over us as we drive home, that is my right as well. There is a saying about how I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and find out there isn't than to live as tho there isn't and find out there is. I pretty much agree with that. Living decently, and treating others well, not judging their belief or lack of, doing the right things as far as not stealing or harming others etc. it isn't hurting me, and it makes the world around me a better place to be. Kat

TracyK, I agree 100%. About it all! We are too close to just up and disappear! I have been having a helluva time getting logged on lately---and eventually I get through.....not sure what the issue is. Maybe Jane is having the same problems? And Judy, you give us hope!! I know you struggled and are now in smooth waters again, you give me great hope, and great advice, with lots of practicality in it--------PLEASE share with us your success as well as we do our screw ups!!! You are not rubbing our noses in it! That has never been your style! Terry---I know you are right in all you say! LOL I plan on riding this afternoon actually! Jason is coming after Kinsey at some point today. The problem lately has been the mud. You cannot ride in the mud then just lead them back to the stall and go. Takes awhile to clean up, and I am afraid to get into all that with Kinsey hanging out. It is cold and the animals are all really big compared to her. I have been stepped on.....and broke, it would crush her. So milling about in the barn, is not something she is allowed to do---but everywhere around it, thatshe plays in good weather while I muck stalls and such, is mud. Usually the ground is frozen longer, but we have had rain, and thawing snow for 2 weeks now.....and have a muddy mess. I think I project more issues to you guys than anyone. I vent when I am mad or upset with Abbey----and I don't mention that much to anyone else--because it upsets or makes them hurt too, because they miss her, and are angry at how things are. So I avoid talking about it to those involved, and rely on y'all. And same with my MIL and her comments. Rick cannot control his Mom, but if I bitch about it, he feels bad, and wants to "talk" to her----which is not the answer! And if I say anything to my Mom, or anyone, then they get an attitude with her as well--------so again I turn to my safe sounding board....y'all! Telling everyone that Rick is driving me crazy with his worrying accomplishes the same thing.....so yep you guessed it---y'all get to hear it! My weight is scaring me--------but this hunger is making me crazy! I WANT to eat all the time. When I am full from eating I still have this overwhelming NEED to keep munching on something. And my issues are not really sweets and snacks, I feel a need to fix family dinners, and eat them all!! I believe it is an emotional reaction to everything else---along with the steroids. And I know you will find it hard to believe but I really can be somewhat dramatic! LOL Not usually, but by days end when the day has been trying---and inlaws + hives + job worries + crazy kids + weight issues + sleep deprivation from worrying about all this = one looney toon me. One who peers through at the dark side....but almost always wakes up to another sunny day. Thank you more than I can say for worrying about me....I really am ok. But am going to find something I can DO so that I have less time to THINK! Well I began this post over an hour ago, and have had multiple interuptions....so am off to change laundry, and play with Kinsey til her Daddy comes.....please let him come. I don't want to be rid of her, but she is excited, and this brings up such horrible memories of her Mama being all excited and her flake of a father never showing up......c'mon Jason, be a good Daddy!!! Kat

We use the Land O Lakes spreadable butter, and sour cream that are in exact same size containers. When I use part of an onion, I will bag the rest and put it in a bowl (one of these) and into the fridge to keep the odor and taste out of everything else. Since those are the 2 we use, I always swap the lids. Put the butter lid on the sour cream container, and visa versa, so that I am not opening a dozen different butter dishes looking for the butter! I heard about the plastic and reheating in them, so with the kids (grandkids) I always transfer it to a plate to heat for them. DH in his lunch says he does not want breakable, heavy items, and he isn't worried about it. I figure he is an adult, and he can make his own call about it! Watching that show Unwrapped on TV shows MANY items going into plastic containers while still hot---only to be cooled down as part of the routine of packaging it. Makes ya wonder! For years they ate off of lead laced plates without knowing.....which is why for so many years they thought tomatoes were poisonous! IT was them leaching the lead out with their acidity! I know from years past in grocery stores with friends who ran Frito Lay routes---and another friend who worked in the meat market---a LOT of things are in plastic getting heated in areas. Anything that is stored behind the freezer units will cook! Jacqui I didn't melt a dish, but almost caught my microwave on fire last week! I was cooking pepperoni---I like it really crisp. And the grease caught fire, without me knowing it! Could have been disasterous, will pay more attention from here on out! Kat

There ya go Mae, she looks like she coulda fit right in with us a few times during our trip!!! LOL Suzanne, I in no way meant to make light of the effort you are putting in. Losing the weight you have, especially this month is impressive. If anything it was a lame attempt at making fun of myself and how pathetic I am at this. I never meant to laugh at you. We don't do that here, we laugh together, but never at. I apologize if you took it that way. Kinsey has been such a sweetheart, and it was a real relief. I have been fighting the dark side all day. Rick was in a mood with someone at work---he ranted about it awhile tonight. Went to my brothers birthday. My MIL made her usual comments about my eating, and my weight. My brother told me how to lose it again....he has so much experience. He is 6'3" and 160 pounds. He works hard physically every day tho, so I am sure he works it off. He has brain damage, and has a loss of filters that you and I have. He is much like a young teen age boy---who knows everything! He told me I just needed to not eat, just like he doesn't drink. What is the problem? I told him, yeah I can do that, I quit smoking the same way---but lets you and I try this (thought my poor Mom was gonna have a coronary!) I said alcohol is your weakness, food is mine. Now every day you have 3 shots. One for breakfast, one for lunch and one for dinner. No more......if you drink more, you will once again become a raging alcoholic. He tells me well alcohol doesn't work like that, it makes you want more, it is an addiction. I laughed, and said I am a food a holic, and you don't think that food makes me want more? You know nothing about it. Meanwhile there is a house full of people all discussing me regaining weight......as my lip slowly swells with a giant hive. I have them all over. It feels kinda hopeless tonight. I know better. KNOW better, but it FEELS it tonight. Like TracyK and her being pregnant(!!!!!!sorry Hon!!!---just comparing the emotional state), the tears are sitting right there, and keeping them from spilling without reason is a job. Jane, I hope you are ok. TracyKS--I so relate to your post. What the hell , fits me to a T tonight. My son was acting all huffy at me, because Connor wanted to wear Kinsey's fairy wings out at my Moms so I put them on him. He doesn't really care that he wears them, he hates that Ali always takes pictures of him in the tiara here, or in the wings there....and he says he knows from experience how bad he will hate those, and he personally will destroy them for him if he wants. He says his Mom did it to him, and teased him unmercifully. I held back from asking him if he thinks he is married to someone like his Mom.......he isn't, and I just want him to think about it. Well I am taking my sorry butt to bed. If I had sleeping pills I'd take some. Well maybe not with Miss Kinsey here. She sat on Ricks lap and he read her a book, and she tells him..."Papa you purr like a cat when you talk" He was so confused! I told him his deep voice resonates in his chest, I feel it when I lay on his shoulder and talk in bed. She would spread herself out on his chest and tell him to read. So he started to laugh, and she tells him to stop giggling! He acted all gruff and told her boys don't giggle, boys laugh! She thought about it, and gets all serious, and she says Poor boys. He decided ok then boys could giggle! She has been such fun. I think Mommy is VERY home/Kinsey sick, she has called 3 -4 times today! Will see you tomorrow. Kat

I understand what he said about smashing your thumb---but if you are one who swells like that, then you really seriously have to sneak up on restriction with teensy tiny fills regularly, not big fills. If you were reacting to the fill, and swelling, then you were only aggravating it every time you threw up---when was it going to get a chance to go down??? That would be like saying ok, well I hit my thumb with the hammer so I won't use the hammer again----and hitting it with a rock instead.....DUH! Dr.'s like their #'s to look good---but I like my stomach to look good and healthy! I agree with Lulu -you paid, you should have a say! Glad your smoothie is down and staying there! Kat

Green---I do not mean to hijack this thread, but I just wanted to tell you that I am sooooo glad to see you posting regularly again, and hope that it means you are feeling much better. I was worried about you! So glad to see more of you! It is a strange feeling to look back and realize what we would have lost had we remained in the bad relationships.....and at the time we felt like we were losing everything. Kat

Same exact way here--I am worlds worst at being told I cannot have something, then that is all I focus on, and in the end I always binged on it. Now I take it in small doses, and keep healthy eating foremost in my mind as opposed to thinking no bread, no Pasta...... The only flaw I see in the poll, is that how you answer the question today, may be totally different than how you answer tomorrow. Restriction varies so much. For women the restriction will change depending upon your monthly cycle, some get super tight, and have to change the way they eat during that time. I have a friend who is banded and he is a firefighter. He said days after he does hose exercises, and things that really give his abs a workout, he is really tight, and cannot tolerate any breads or meat. Other days he can eat anything! When you are allowed to eat post op, just follow the rules....VERY small bites, chew, chew, chew, then pause between bites for a few minutes, not a few seconds---let yourself have a chance to see how it feels before it is too late, and you are hurting. Proceed if there are no problems. Because while it is good to hear of others experiences, none of them will be guaranteed to be yours! Everyone seems to be and react differently! Good Luck Kat

SnT-I am in no way saying my way is the only way or THE way with the band....but I have always kept my restriction to a minimum, and it may have taken me a little longer, but I made it to goal, without painful eating, or PB's every day. I learned good eating habits eating like a bandster, and even now with no fill at all since last April---I am managing to maintain for the most part. Here lately with the steroids, it is harder than before tho----so thinking a fill might help---then again it may just make it worse! I tried to keep my focus more on healthy eating as opposed to limiting my eating. I cannot (well maybe I could I dunno!) just choose to go without food--that is like dieting! YUCK! My method was more of a mind change---I tried to visualize, how small my new stomach was. I actually have a pouch that is similar in size on my desk! Anyway I would do my best to try fill that space with as healthy of food as possible---some of it was not diet concious food, but it was healthy usually. I didn't eliminate every carb from my body, or all the sugar, but I definitely cut down on them! While I did not follow the diet, I relied on a lot I had learned when reading the South Beach Diet book in my yo yo dieting days! It can be done, and I have no doubt you can do it. Being too tight is dangerous, and why get thin if you are going to ruin your health doing it and be unable to enjoy yourself???? Glad you are getting some relief--enjoy your smoothie! Kat

2 French fries is cheating worth bold red letters----oh heaven help me! For I have sinned in major ways then.....2 french fries, lets compare that to.....vats of ice cream, enough chips and HOT salsa to feed a 3rd world country, flour tortillas with my tacos last night, not corn......today is my brothers birthday, and as we speak (chat...er type) my Mom is putting her homemade cream cheese frosting on his freshly baked carrot cake------and am I going to be able to control it to the equivalent to 2 french fries? Who am I kidding?????? Suzie----limiting yourself to 2 french fries when a whole order is sitting there is SUCCESS! Jenn sorry about the fried feet!!! I always did tan/burn in wierd ways with the tanning beds! Funniest one was these wierd little half moons I got ---they remained white, the rest of me tanned, and they were where my butt smushed down towards my thighs---walking in a swimsuit or nekkid, you got these flashes of white.....tanning beds are a thing of the past for me! Kat

That was just so suprising to me Carrie!! I mean there are now and were when I was a kid religious schools where uniforms are/were required and the girls are only allowed pants on Friday (I guess because we all know religion relaxes on Friday in school too????LOL)--but I had no idea that public schools in my own day and age required all dresses of the girls-------I feel so much older knowing that! I think I will start discussing the weather regularly and saying I reckon'......feels like it is time!!! As for my inlaws church. They were both raised in the same church---both find it "normal". She is very (oh man I am struggling for words!) kind hearted, albeit less so as she ages, she is turning into one grouchy old woman!!! But anyway---she believes this whole heartedly, and only in the last 20-30 years has even entertained the idea that it may not be exactly that way and no other! Now keep in mind she is over 80. So it actually took her own kids having other beliefs and discussing them with her and their Dad for them to open their minds just a tad bit. They were born and raised in central Texas in itty bitty ranch communities, and most everyone they knew, besides family they knew through the church, so they were exposed to this day and night, and nothing else. I do not condemn them for their beliefs, I simply try to put myself in their position and understand the reasons they believe that way. One of the things that made her sit up and step back a little was my sister in laws divorce. It was beyond my MIL's comprehension that her beloved child was condemned to hell. She being a loving Mom would take that upon herself to save her child, and being told that couldn't happen---caused a serious breach in her faith. Then along come my DH and he too divorced--so she became a bit distant from things then.....but it took away her comfort zone as well. Then a few years ago, they got a new preacher, and he is all of 26 maybe---and she addressed him straight away about it. He told her he did not believe the translations were so literal, and give her several passages to read, about how similar situations we have now that result in divorce were dealt with in another manner. But not something that is viable in this day and age--anymore than her living hundreds of years and bearing a child now would be possible. He in all of his young years seriously eased her heart. Sadly the other minister, who preaches hell fire and damnation is still at it.......as many are just like him. Giving that particular church a bad name to some and religion as a whole a bad name to others. Religion as well as most things in life are better approached with an open mind as well as an open heart. Kat

I did not say that I just fell in and believed the preacher in my inlaws church telling me I was condemned to hell for being divorced----just that I chose not to be preached at by this man. He is now at a different church, in Texas, spreading his hate and discontent, disguised as religion. I personally have no problem understanding the ones who have been so disillusioned as to leave organized religion behind. As to reading his word for myself. I have done that. However, I am the first to admit, many of the chapters are written in ways to either totally bore me with line after line after line of who beget who, or have been written in a way to go right over my head--so I acknowledge and admit, I do not know what some of it meant, or what it was trying to tell me---so yes I do listen to others and their take on it. Do I think their understanding to be right, and mine wrong-no. I do however find others interpretations something to think about, and consider. Not however to follow blindly. Kat

HI~ Getting around slowly this morning, didn't sleep well, so everything seems out of whack. Kinsey did well, once she went to sleep I heard her talk in her sleep once, and that was it until after 8 this morning. We had a minor disaster, in the milk having spoiled, but frozen waffles saved the morning for her! Terry, they have gotten rid of some of the contracted help----welders, and things like that, all on the support side. They threaten with it all the time, Rick is TOTALLY fed up. Something happen first thing this morning, but he hasn't been able to say what. He was here, and working IN the oilfield, on the rigs themselves in the early 80's. Our fields lasted longer than some because so many are natural gas wells as opposed to oil wells---but eventually they all shut down---and our area was much smaller, then so it just about dried up and blew away. That is when Rick left here (I stayed and we went our separate ways for a few years...convinced we could do it!!! HA!) and went to Denver, and went back to school, got his degree, and worked there. Eventually migrating back to a combination of the 2 with the office out of Brighton which is a Denver suburb. He has went all over the world with the company, but hell now they act like he is someone who just wandered in off the streets and is taking up valuable resources. So it is a day to day thing. The work here is still booming pretty well, in the gas side of things. As long as they want heat in the East they have to drill it......but as service jobs shut down between here and there with the pipeline services, it is slowing down. And Ricks part of it is something you probably know about---probably not so much others (like Michelle!!! We teased her about it in the car ride!!!) Rick runs the Frac side of the local camp. They go in and fracture the ground of previously drilled wells, opening up other groud formations, and attempting to re establish gas flow. They pump liquid nitrogen, sand, and chemicals into the ground to do that. In different quantities, with different chemicals etc. depending on how deep the well is, or whether it is a straight well or a directional. He deals with the crews going out to do that as well as the shop that handles their equipment. So he is middle management.....first to go. I would love to be a fly on the wall if and when that happens, they will be so totally lost---I cannot tell you when the last time he was off that someone didn't call to ask some sort of question. Especially since his secretary quit, when they are both gone---that place is lost! All that said, we will be in sad shape if he gets laid off. NM unemployment offices are in such horrid shape, people are losing everything, because the office is so far behind. We would be better off than some, we would have a home. But our bills are massive. Most of it medical, so they cannot come and repossess his esophagus, or take back all the EKG's they ran, but they could still make life miserable. Some credit card debt as we tried to live while they got his disability together----I am like you, trying to pay it off as much as possible, as quickly as possible....and all the time wondering if I would not be better off stuffing the money in my mattress and just nickel and diming the bills. Who knows???? And I wonder why the hives don't go away???? Pamela that was always a great way to occupy my DD. We live near Indian Ruins---both Aztec Ruins and Mesa Verde. In both of them they have dioramas of what life was like in the ruins they are excavating. So she always wanted to make them! I could always give her a box outside and she would play and work for hours on them! Then when she would be home sick--I could give her a box, a catalog or magazine, or 2---and she would make a house! I think Kinsey is going to be of a similar nature, she prefers small toys to play with on the coffee table as opposed to big things. It rained last night. Kinda drizzly out there still. Found out from my DIL this morning, that DD and SOL are flying to FL to look into a job next week. So nice to hear about it that way. I cannot for the life of me imagine him leaving his Mommy----but maybe it would make him grow up some. I told her, at least then I would have a reason not to be seeing her or the baby. I think she thought I was being a real Biotch saying it! I meant it tho. I think it is time to face the fact that my hives are not going anywhere.....maybe I do need happy pills. Well I am off to find this poor starving girl some lunch! BBL~~ Kat

Hope you get a GREAT response from your impromptu radio promotion!!! Well Kinsey is finally asleep....we stripped her bed and put on her new sheets, and she is laying upside down, on top of the covers, covered up with a cozy blanket. She has a thing for textures, and loves cozy soft snuggle blankets......but she is asleep---so I guess I will head that way myself. She didn't fight going to bed, but was just excited at all the different things. LOL I got involved in playing games with her, and missed my shows tonight, dangit! I will see all of you in the morning! Nighty night! Kat

Wow! Where was your Mom raised? I am 48 as well---raised in a rural setting, and I remember wearing dresses to school exactly one day a year, and that was class picture day!!! Now I know MY Mom did have to wear dresses, and they had special days where to girls could wear pants. She was raised in a small mountain community above Denver CO---so when the snow was waist deep, they were allowed pants! My inlaws are Church of Christ members, and they do not dance, they do not have any accompaniment music in services---no organ or piano, let alone the worship BAND my church has!!! No make up, no women in any leadership roles whatsoever. In fact my FIL cannot be an elder (or whatever they call it, but the equivalent) because his children are not all practicing in the church and 2 of the 4 have been divorced. It reflects upon him....just a few of the MANY reasons I will not go to church with them. The preacher told me I was condemned to hell because I am divorced.....If God is going to send me to hell for divorcing a man who literally tried to kill me --- and was sentenced in a jury trial of just that----then he is not a God I want to worship! The God I believe in rejoiced in my getting out alive! Kat

The one on your update thread? She referred to the baby by name, and offered hugs, I would have thought it was someone you knew. She must be one who reads and feels close to you regardless. The tone of the post was not snotty----I think it was meant as a joke, I took it that way. And I am in a mood tonight---so cannot believe I took anything in a light hearted manner!! LOL I had to log on again, and DO something, or I was going to grab ice cream from the freezer. I am taking care of my granddaughter for a couple of days, so I have all kinds of goodies in the house....Lord Help ME!!!!! LOL Kat

LJM---have they given you an estimate on his size from the Ultrasound? My last 3 grandbabies, were all within mere ounces of what the Dr. predicted with the ultrasounds. My oldest DD was in the hospital on bed rest and meds for Preeclampsia. When they did the ultrasounds, there was no change in the babies size, she was suffering from intrauterine growth restriction, so they induced her. He said the baby would be between 4 1/2 and 5 pounds----and she was 4 lbs 14 oz. Never needed oxygen, she was born late one night, spent the next day and come home the following morning. As long as she could regulate and hold her own body temp they discharged her. My grandson, she went without a problem one, until 10 cm. dilated, and he was pinching his umbilical cord. They told us he was small, about 5 pounds--he was 5 lbs 3 oz!! Last one was last week, they said about 8 lbs 8 oz. he was 8 lbs 12 oz!! Amazing accuracy!!! Good Luck!!! Kat

I never was really made fun of in school, was always part of a good group, not the preppy bunch, but a popular bunch just the same. I was however well into high school before the boys would look me in the eye rather than the chest.....not that they were no longer interested, they finally had enough brain function to figure out staring straight at the chest was an automatic NO! to anything they ask!!! Manda come home from 2nd grade crying because some boy made fun of her crooked teeth. I wanted to knock his new permanent ones out! She was very popular in school, as she got older, and most knew not to mess with her, she began karate classes in 4th grade--and was teaching them in high school. She still holds a levelled brown belt in Aikido! She run with a crowd, but they were volotile, very dramatic girlie girls----always a fight between someone, and then the next day they were BFF's again! Lenny was always teased about being skinny, or having a big nose. He hung with his football buddies, and was always a part of a group, seldom if ever alone. Abbey got called a nerd frequently, but was not upset by it, it simply urged her on! She hung with the artsy, kids who did their own thing, labeling her was impossible! She always had one or 2 close friends and that was it. The rest of the school could have disappeared and she wouldn't have minded! Parenting is hard. It hurts to see your kids hurt, worse than anything else I know! I was so incredibly glad when they all graduated and were out of school, I cannot tell you!! Well guess I need to run to the store, found out I have extra's coming for dinner, so need to add some to my plans!!! XOXOXO Kat