Kat817

I too think the post on the other thread, meant that the vast majority of bandsters slipped up with their post op diet in one manner or another.....not that most of us end up with slipped bands. I recently went through what I thought was a slipped band, it ended up that I had a twisted intestine, not related to the band. While in there, he said my stomach looked as though it might have tried to prolapse. Which is the stomach coming back up through the band. Which doesn't surprise me, I had been throwing everything I ate or drank up for days on end---I was shocked I had not damaged the band, or actually my stomach further. But he said my adhesion line looked solid and healthy.....hope it stays thataway!!! I fully realize there is a fine line on responding to posters in those threads, and many times just find myself moving on, because I cannot for the life of me find another way to say the same old line of 'see your Dr. or talk to your surgeon'. I want to shake the bejesus out of them and ask them WTF they were thinking? But since I cannot do that, and I understand why I can't(!), I move one usually! If it is someone or someone has posted in the thread I think I might seriously be able to help out, I have no issue. But there is a bumper sticker out that says "It is easier to beg forgiveness than to ask for permission"--------and I feel like that is what so many of these posts are. I have to wonder why they didn't sit down and log in when the urge to eat hit--------that is how I got past MANY urges to eat, I would log on and look at the before and after pics, to get my inspiration back. Instead they find the time AFTER gorging themselves. If you take the high road, and try to counsel them some on the why and how the band works and why it is so dangerous to it to eat that kind of thing early, then you get the old "know it all" and how those at goal are on their high horse. On the other hand if you go with a tough love, you have no compassion, and obviously did not have the difficult time they are having. Nah, I just got morbidly obese, because I could quit eating any time! LOL Did I cheat on my post op? Like some others I did a little bit---I moved to mushies a day earlier than scheduled, and admitted it to my Dr. I did have a much stricter post op than most I had seen, so I made the decision to do it. But that being said, I DID base my allowing myself to do it upon others posts here, I knew others were eating that were banded at the same time--they were moving to full diets, and I was still waiting for mushies---so I jumped ship a day early. I did NOT come here looking for someone to help me justify doing so. All I had to do for that was look in the mirror!!! NO one but me made me do it! LOL Now I eat whatever, and don't consider it cheating, I probably should!!! Sometimes I wish people would just ignore those posts all together, no response and they would quickly get buried, and forgotten, but instead they get the reaction from people and the battle is on....! Well I am of to cheat and eat something for lunch!!! LOL I mean after all I am banded and immoral, and all those other things!!!! For shame! Kat

Rick said some more changes had taken place, but did not elaborate. I am sure I will hear all about them all night long. He is driving me crazy, and it is a really short trip these days! The company he works for is running scared with the new leadership change. Halliburton in Iraq deals with oil, as they do in many locals, but locally they do very little with oil, and work mostly with natural gas. BUT with the contracts given to Halliburton by their former president Cheney, and with the proposed tax penalties upon companies who move their operational headquarters out of the US.....they are running scared that the money train they have been cruising on is fixing to be derailed! So they did a hiring freeze. Meanwhile, they had the best quarter ever last of last year, and they do not have the employees to support the work they are doing.....so now they cut hours to 40 a week, no OT,and are talking layoffs.....all the while bringing a 4th frac crew in from Bakersfield CA to help keep up with the work. None of it makes sense. Rick is of serious mixed feelings in it. He was furious when they moved to Dubai (of the United Arab Emirates) as their headquarters, but it was supposed to save them close to a billion dollars tax wise. He totally supports the move to tax the bejesus out of companies who do that----even if it does cost him his job. Locally they have to compete for work, and they have no problem winning bids, and completing work, and he believes they should have been bidding and competing all along, rather than just being awarded contracts over in Iraq. So it puts him in the HUGE minority at work, and that is a well known fact. Whether it will figure in when these lay offs start or not we will have to see. He is in the same job position as one other guy--they actually share the job---one of them being on call available at all times, and in charge of the support teams. Rick has seniority. IF he gets axed and the other guy does not, then we will find a lawyer---he has pulled the race card before, and we figure he will again, and around here it is common practice to do Native American hiring preference. BUT they are not on the reservation, and not supported by reservation, so it is not legal. Most of the other places around here are still going and a blowing. He has "ins" with Conoco Phillips and with BP. So he is going to update his resume (it has been well over a decade since he seriously looked elsewhere!) and try to be proactive himself. Part of our issue is the insurance thing, he has to provide insurance on the child we pay child support for. Cobra insurance coverage just for her would eat up over half of his unemployment all by itself! But literally a month does not go by that we do not get medical bills or dental bills or something on her. Her Mother is addicted to Rx meds, for a botched back surgery, and has taught her DD to love going to Dr.'s. We will have a bit of a break this month, because she has to pay the first $250.00 of expenses not met by insurance, then we have to begin paying 91% of all unpaid amounts--which adds up quickly. She has a bad knee apparantly and some sort of bladder issue.....she sees the Dr. more frequently than everyone else I know put together! So with all this going on, my DH refuses to seem to be able to talk about anything else. He is quickly turning into a glass half empty over it, and it is frustrating the you know what out of me! My hives are going nuts, even with the steroids last night, I thought I might end up in ER. my throat was so tight. We tried to go by and see our DD and the baby, only to be told by phone, they never answered their door, that Saturday would be better. Screw that! Sorry, I love her, and already love the baby, but when I have to make an appointment so that the SOB SOL will be there when I go by I just won't go. I have Kinsey and Connor that do not require appointments to be seen.....I will not be calling or visiting again, until we hear from her. What her Dad decides to do is up to him, he can try to stop by again, I won't be. So......now you know why I have been avoiding posting, life is yucky right now. Hoping Rick finds a different, better more secure job......and that my DD finds the backbone she obviously misplaced somewhere, and life gets good again! I have Kinsey today, that always cheers me up....but right now she is getting her Scooby fix! We got the shop finished, it looks so good! Even with 5 motorcycles in there there is room to work. And that makes room in the garage for the elliptical---maybe I can use it out there, it is just too tight in the extra bedroom with all the other stuff and that being the room with Kinseys bed and toys! TracyKS good luck on your job issues, hope you and Rick get better positions soon!!! Will check in later, gotta go scratch!! Kat

Just lost my post.....grrrrrrrr No news yet, will try to recompose post tomorrow. Kat

Well as has been said, it takes a nice looking head to look nice bald! I have proof that someone, somewhere in time dropped me on my head, I have a flat spot!!! Seriously! just behind where my part ends, there is a flat spot.....never noticed it, until I was bald! Now bald with a nice healthy glowing skintone, and some smoky eye make up, with nicely groomed brows and masacara'd eyelashes might present a different picture than that of my sickly green tinted skin and no brows or lashes!!!!!! Friggin' chemo was not a sexy look!!! Nope, I like my hair simple. #1 I like just having hair. #2 I do not want to spend much time working with it, I prefer a wash & go. Mine is long, say mid back---between my shoulders and bra strap. Layered a lot because with my natural curl, it works! I occasionally will use a curling iron on my bangs and floof them out a bit---otherwise, it is wash, mouse, and go! Slap on some tinted sunscreen, mascara and head out! I used to take more time, do more make up, and worry about my hair....getting lazy in my old age! Kat

I think I would call and at least make an appt. and try one of the other Dr.'s in the practice, you could always go back if need be and say they couldn't fit you in their schedule or something. I know little tweak type fills make a HUGE difference! My band is the old 4cc band, and my first fill was 1.25cc. and it give me some very mild restriction, I had to remember to eat like a bandster, but portion size was not affected, I was still doing it on my own. Well he always asks me questions about how the fill did, so he ask, I answered and he said he was only going to give me .50cc. I thought good grief that is less than half of what I got before, I am going to have to have 10 fills at this rate, and I pay for them out of pocket. Well I do liquids the day of surgery, and the next when I went to eat, holy smoke, 4 bites and I was DONE! Over time it loosened some, but it was my last fill. I never had another adjustment of any sort until my unfill for surgery. I am 6 hours away from my fill Dr. so the concern was if I got nauseated following my TT, I would be too far away to get an unfill quickly---so we unfilled prior to the TT. I am soooooooo ready for a fill now it is ridiculous! But I think it might be worth it to "test drive" one of the other Dr.'s if this one is so unwilling to listen to your issues. You do pay him......he should be willing to work for you, within reason, and what you are asking for is totally reasonable. If you were demanding huge fills that could be dangerous it would be one thing, but to ask for a small tweak, that YOU are paying for....I don't see the issue. It is so wierd how different all these Dr.'s are.... Kat

I am waiting to look into airline tickets, we were informed last night that lay offs start tomorrow, so if that happens, I will be out..... Long day. Had quite a night at the company party. They had a hypnotist, and hynotized several of the employees, had them doing everything from the guys acting like Victoria's Secret models, to singing Brittny Spears....thinking they were body builders, and cows--------all kinds of things, I laughed so hard my stomach muscles hurt!! Finished up the building in the shop, now we finish up the paint tomorrow....kinda sad to see it completed, it was fun doing it, and yet I am thrilled with the finished product..... Well I have to get to bed, it was after 2 AM this morning with a Gruene type of night (read wayyyyy too many drinks!!) So now I am going to bed! Take care and see ya tomorrow! Kat

Being able to eat more, and make it quality food would not be more calorie wise than the ice cream! Plus it is so bad on your stomach and esophagus to be too tight! Try the unfill--see if eating some good solid Protein, will not hold you and allow you to kick some of the sugar addiction. If it is too much you can always fill again. Better to take a little longer losing the weight permanently than to lose your band permanently! It is a scary thought to me! I know the fear of unfilling! I actually was unfilled most of the way last April in preparation for my TT surgery. Then did fine with out the fill for months. Then had a major surgery involving a twisted intestine and they totally deflated my band. I managed, although I did feel hunger again etc with no fill at all. Then I ended up on some steroids over some recurring hives, and I feel like I am out of control! I am heading in for a fill this next week----but refuse to be too tight, that scares me. Especially now that I know how difficult it would be with no band! Good Luck! Kat

Jenn you have every right in the world to be totallt proud of the weight accomplishments as well as the new attitude!!! As for the guy---you need one who fits into your life, and you fit into his, not one you have to give up family and friends for, anymore than you expect him to give his up. Afterall the family and friends have formed you into the person you are....so if he doesn't like them or get along with them, there is going to be a problem!!! So far sounds like he is adaptable!!!! Terry, so sorry you are dealing with son in these issues. I have no advice for you, only wish I was close enough to give you a hug and provide assitance in some way. If you ask him as an 'adult' how he would want you to respond, how do you think he would answer? My brother has disabilities similar to what Jenn says Kev has, due to his accident as well, and I know we walk on eggshells around him, we never know what the right thing to do is. Do we cater to him and his wishes, or not.....I feel for you, and can only imagine it in my child. I don't have those issues with the kids..... only lack of brains completely on occasion. With a side of total insensitivity. Grandkids are sooooo much easier! We have Rick's company party tomorrow night, have no idea what to wear....thought about getting my hair cut, but with layoff talk, think I will wait. First to go will be middle management, and guess where we fall?! Think we will be on a serious spending diet just in case....scary! He has had a recent job offer, he might actually consider it now. His company has received such a horrible reputation, and now the "in" connection is going out of office, so it might well be the end of his job. He has good skills, and should not have issues finding a job, but finding one he walks in making what he does now, and not physically doing more than he does now, is not likely! Well I am off to get Kinsey some lunch.....will check in on all of you later. Jane, any news on the tests yet??? Kat

Same here with the notifications, and inability to get to the site earlier.....new things on the way apparantly, Alex must be doing his thing!!! Kat

Just sent you all an email that I couldn't get on, and that was the magic ticket!!! All is well again!! Kat

Laura, the one I know about kids and arms....is that a child cannot put his arm up and over his head and touch the opposite ear until about age 5. In Africa, when Rick was working there, that is how they determined whether a child was ready for going to school or not, it had nothing to do with age at all! If you raise their arm straight up, and over the top of their head, they cannot touch the other ear until around 5. It is when their body growth catches up to their head size! Well my Dad fractured L1, nothing to be done about it, it just has to heal now. He is sure hurting. They gave him pain meds. Tonight the baby was less red in the face, and seemed to be less "swollen". He is officially an eater, he figured out the nursing thing!! LOL She is up and around and going home in the morning, feeling pretty good. We just stopped and grabbed a burger on the way home, ate half, and a couple of onion rings. Brought the rest home....lunch tomorrow! I am going tomorrow to find me a shirt to wear to the company party on Sat. night. Actually I have one I am thinking of, think I will go try it on and see what Rick thinks....maybe I won't have to go shopping! BB in a while! Kat

LOL we too do it a cow at a time. Difference is, DH goes out and looks them over and decides who goes in the freezer and who goes to the sale barn!! We raise cattle! LOL I do not know which one he picks, I have a habit of naming the obvious cows----if they have a feature that makes them stand out--and if I meet it I don't wanna eat it....so he takes care of that, I just stack it in when it comes back from being processed!!! We do a variety of cuts, and change it up from time to time. And I love that I can have it packaged in sizes that are relevent to us now! Kat

Not in jail! DH did talk about it with his DD right in front of her husband. He told her almost didn't come, and why--she was very upset, so he didn't push it and confront the husband, but let it be known, that we are not going to let him run our relationship with our DD. Anyway---the baby is a sweetie!!! He is a big boy! 8 lbs 12 oz. and 21.5" long! He thrived despite the fact that she had a problem pregnancy and had a torn placenta that bled for over 6 months! His name is Corvin Brock....different, but I will adjust!! LOL Thanks again for letting me rant!!! Kat

Laura.....FFR (for Future Reference!) following vomitting or diarrhea they reccomend a BRAT diet--easy to remember because by the time they feel well enough to eat, the word BRAT fits because they have hit the whiny stage!! B-Bananas R-Rice A- Applesauce T- Toast The bananas and Rice actually have a compound in them that relaxes the stomach,and coats it, and the toast is absorptive, so it helps with all the excess acids from the illness. And I was told the purpose of the applesauce and forgot it!! Also clear soda like 7-up --as it absorbs through the stomach lining....but only in very small sips. Good Luck with the cat! They are remodelling our local Safeway store....it is a huge mess. BUT....they are also discontinuing tons of stuff to bring in new things. So I just come home with probably 15 stuffed bags, for under $50.00!!! Buying big jars of chicken bouillon powder for .15 cents! I use it in sauces a lot! Double packs of the Chef Boyardee pizza kits for .45 cents---thought the kids would like the making their own pizza. And then I can make it with tons of toppings, and eat it!!! LOL Several flavors of Jello pudding for a quarter a 4 pack, bought up a bunch to send home with all the grandkids. Nestles chocolate milk mix for .57 cents for the large container! Bought that for the kids too. All kinds of things. I bought up a bunch of the staple kind of things for Manda since she is just setting up house again. They gave me a Lonney Tunes reusable shopping bag since I spent over $50. I use my own all the time, but did not have enough today---so they gave me the one, and now Kinsey wants to go shopping again so she can fill it up......I don't think so! By the time Manda gets off I figure a good portion of the buys will be gone, and my DIL is home sick, she is having bouts of all day sickness! A couple of days ago she was complaining of crampy feelings, and yesterday she woke up spotting some. She was borderline hysterical! I told her about Manda doing that and that the Dr said it was likely just the embryo implanting itself, as the cramps were a sign of it moving through the falopian tube. She went to her Dr. and he agreed. Said there is always a chance it is something else, to just take it easy, and rest for a couple of days. I told her that meant to quit carrying Connor everywhere, the boy weighs a ton!!! LOL I was reading an article that said you could take a childs height at 2 years of age and double it and it would predict their eventual overall height. If it is true, Kinsey is going to be in the neighborhood of 5'4" tall. And Connor will be 5'9" tall. Which is not bad considering his Grandpa on their Moms side is maybe 5'5". In my family that seems really short for a man------but my Dad is 6'5" and has many relatives taller than he is!! Kinda cool....I looked back in Manda's baby book and it says she was 35" tall when she was 2, which would have put her between 5'8" and 9" and she is right there! Wierd! Well Kinsey has a grandma who is not even 5' tall, so she is gonna be ok, in the middle! Gotta go, Rick is raving on the phone again! LOL Kat

No Laura, the baby was not thought to be seriously overdue. Her original due date was Jan. 14th. Then with the ultra sound and measurements they moved her due date up to Dec. 31st. So when she went past that, they decided to induce her labor, and found him in distress when they hooked up the monitor, every contraction would result in dropping his heart rate from his normal 122 to under 40! So they went in and did the emergency C section, and found his umbilical cord literally knotted, and wrapped around his little neck. So there was no way she was escaping the c section. The knot took up just enough length that when he would try to drop into the birth canal, it stretched out and cut off his blood and oxygen---so even with the c section they had to wiggle and squeeze to get the big boy out! LOL. Her incision is only 4-5 inches, and he was 8 lbs 12 oz. so it was a tight fit! The pictures I have of her at Christmas, are unbelievable, the girl was all belly!!! She has gone down remarkably! She did not gain much elsewhere. Rick did go by and see her, and SOL's Mommy was there, but she went for coffee when Rick showed up! SOL was home showering. So he said they took a walk, and she got her catheter out, and is down to only one IV, and the pain pump is gone. So she might come home this evening, but likely tomorrow morning. I am going to the hospital as soon as my Mom gets back from taking my Dad to the Dr. So I can drop off Kinsey. When I had Manda, she was 8 lbs 11 oz. But she was seriously overdue. They knew as soon as they broke my water she was overdue because it was cloudy. Abbey was scared to have her water broke, someone told her it was terribly painful----I felt nothing! I hate scare tactics! Manda's fingernails had grown long, and curved back down over her fingerprints! Now they grow just fine and normal, but in the womb they were soft and folded over her fingers! And she looked like a little old man who had receding hairlines! Where they lose the sides, but have the center hair on top. The center of hers was so long, if you combed it down it covered her ears!! So the nurse tied a pink bow on it, and we cut it! She had her first haircut before leaving the hospital!! All the births sound scary I know---but they have amazing technology---like that that discovered that babies like Connor or Corvin was in distress-and allowed them to safely do C sections to make Mom and baby both safe. However your labor and delivery goes, you will be fine! It is the only pain that you get something so wonderful and amazing from! And like Abbey, she is already talking about how all her kids will have to be c section, so she is already planning more, it is not deterring her!! My Dad slipped on ice out on his walk---he walkes 5-6 miles a day in the hills, for his heart health. He is not sure, but is afraid he broke something. He hurts to sit, or move at all. I hate that! They are getting along with the dog wonderfully, which is a relief! The SUN is shining!! YAY, it seems like a long time! No lunch today. Worried about my friend. She actually has taken in her 3 grandkids, because her DD has no water or heat in her home. She is so worried of course. So going to go get the paycheck and put it in the bank and do some grocery shopping.....healthy food, healthy food....keep repeating that to myself! Kat

Yep, yep, yep! Everything that green and Tap said!!! Glad you are ready to live for you and the kids....good luck with your surgery, and keep your attitude positive! Kat

Well, feel free to hang out here, get to know some people, learn about eating the bandster way---and then you won't have quite such a change when you are ready for surgery! There is an amazing amount of information available on this site, and while the band helps us with portion control in a serious manner, most of us practice healthy eating habits as well, and you can always share in that. Having a strong support group in place when you head into the surgery is always a plus!! Welcome to LBT! Kat

Maybe Suzanne can translate your dream from the book I sent in her SS gift!!! It was pretty wierd, I centered her gift around dreams, all because of a comment posted months before. But the day she got it, she said she didn't know whether to open it or not, and the next day she said she had a DREAM about what was in it!!! I told her she had to open it then, so she could find out what the dream meant!! LOL Yes, I too am glad Rick had the talk with her while he was present, I know he seriously wanted to confront him and cause a scene, but he loves Abbey too much to upset her that way, at the time it was. The baby is sweet, and he seems so big! The last several in our family have been teeny tiny things! And to see him in the nursery next to a 6 pounder he was dwarfing her! So glad, he thrived despite the troubles she had early on through the first and second trimester with the placenta bleeding. It was a real relief to see him here and healthy. I kept telling myself through it all, if there were problems, the little guy was being born into the right family, Abbey could handle anything but it is such immense relief. And while Rick is still upset, he is over it for the most part. He called me a few minutes ago, and said he was going to send a guy for a part over by the hospital, but he was thinking of going himself, and just stopping in---what did I think? I told him, that is our plan so DO IT! Haven't heard back from him yet. Last night no one was there but us, today his Mommy, and others will likely be there. My Mom got on to me yesterday for making fun of SOL's relationship with his Mommy!! She has seen it, just in a less frequent or up close way. I told her I was sorry, but the relationship was wierd, she still cuts his food for him! Which is not frequently...only when they have Breakfast actually....because she mixes his eggs and hashbrowns just right! Other than that the only things he eats (dead serious here) are cheeseburgers with lots of ketchup, and cheese pizza---the cheap frozen kind is his favorite. And he microwaves flour tortillas with ketchup in them. He eats NO vegetables or fruit of any kind! Besides the hashbrowns. She cuts the crust off his toast....AND I refer to her as his Mommy because HE does! My Moms eyes got big, and she said, thats a little nauseating!! My Mom sees good in everyone, so her saying that was hilarious! His family dynamics are strange. His Father seems to only tolerate him, often acting appalled by things same as we do. He looks just like his Dad tho! Wierd bunch my DD chose. She always has chose wierd friends, and music, and art.....she definitely marches to the beat of a different drummer. I always appreciated that about her until him!! LOL They are just going to make us stutter more as a family with his name!! We have an abundance of C & K names! At Christmas Eve we laughed because sitting at the kids table were Keegen, Kelcie, Kinsey, Connor, Kolton, and Kaydee. Not at the table and still among the young cousins were Caitlynn, Casey, Kyle, & now Corvin! For a long time without intending all our girls began with A's--------now this is developing without intention either. The only 2 who were named purposely that way were Kolten & Kaydee, my nieces youngest 2. Sounds as bad as the Duger family on TV---18 kids and all begin with J---they were joking on another thread the other day that the next on #19 is going to be named Justanother Dugan!!! Made me laugh! Well I think I am going to lunch with my friend Marie--we both need the down time, she is going through crap with her addicted DD again. Poor thing. And I need to go get some elliptical time in, I vowed on the exercise thread to get some sort of moving in today!!! And if I don't put myself out there, I won't do it! Everyone have a great day!!! Kat

Plain if that woman is your wife....I know you too and you are an ASS!! LOL......nah, that eye is not bloodshot and baggy enough to be the hippies husband!!!! Well we went and met the grandson! Despite the SOL, and DH did have words with both he and our DD. SOL knows we are not putting up with his sh*t anymore. So baby is adorable! He is a biggun! He weighed in at 8 lbs 12 oz. 21.5" long, and his feet are so big they go out of the top and bottom of the box on the birth certificate form!!! He has light brown hair and kind of a hazel looking eyes, no blue to them at all! His name is Corvin Brock. We will try to move on from here, but without taking anymore crap from SOL. I have taken Z packs for many infections through the years, and the one thing I know about them is you need to take some acidopholos (sp?) or eat lots of yogurt....the 5 day pack inevitably leads to yeast infections for me! Not always the one you are thinking of either!! I have had bouts with thrush in my mouth from the antibiotics too. I have been taking steroids long term now for some hive issues, that tend to form in my throat. I am going off them this next week, and trying a different treatment.....wish me luck. I HATE these drugs, my face is as fat as it was when I was at my high weight, I am ALWAYS hungry! On the good side, it did improve other appetites as well, although they were never really hurting! But this is a horrible drug--horrible! It really did help the pain in my knee though, wish it had dealt as swiftly with the hives. They are believed to be stress related---so today did nothing to help with that!! Thanks for all the support and allowing me to spout off about the jerk SOL!! Kat

I have to wonder, and ask, if the OP's surgeon explained the reason for the highly restrictive diet? Did he show you how the stomach would be manipulated and stitched to allow it to heal with the band in place? Mine used an actual lap band, and the sheet on my hospital bed to show me exactly how he would place it, and where he would stitch it, and where the liver would have to be moved to allow this. Then he told me how long it would take for the adhesions to begin forming, which is what holds it in place long term. He said the problem with eating early is in the digestion. It makes your stomach move so it allows the band wiggle room---so the adhesions make a pouch rather than a snug fit. You might not know that it is loose for months......but that does not mean it is all hunky dory! To make like everything is fine is to tell all those researching that if they feel the need, they too can cheat on the post op, and all will be ok.....and it will not be all ok for all patients. Who knows with this OP? Not me.....likely not even his surgeon for awhile to come. As for the slippage percentages.....you can find a variety of percentages to fit all claims----look around in the complications threads, you will find claims of HIGH rates, and Dr.'s etc to back it up. I would imagine the truth lies somewhere in the middle. The sad part is the number is on the rise, and it is not BAND failure, it is BANDSTER failure. We are all addicted to food, and we all go through the bandster hell.....just as some can quit smoking others do not have the resolve to do that----some do not have the resolve to lose the weight even with the help of the band. No one is perfect, but to claim something is safe that is not is perfectly stupid, and potentially harmful to those researching or newbie bandsters. Kat

That WAS fun, and I am sooooo ready again!! Although I weigh just as much now again as I did then!! LOL Who the hell cares tonight? Not me! Not Terry!!! LOL Well, I picked Rick up at work, and we went to the hospital. I took the baby an outfit that was little jammies that said "Mom's New Man" With a little hat to match and booties, and another one with a red onesie and blue pants with a fire truck bib. I had one that was sweats that said Daddy's All Star---I refused to take it, will save it for another little boy! Rick was SOOOO tense, but we went in, and no one was there except DD, SOL and the baby. So first things first......he was born at 8:20 this morning, he weighed 8 lbs. 12 oz. was 21.5" long, has light brown hair, and kind of hazel eyes. Big feet! His foot prints extend beyond the top of the box and then his heel extends past the bottom of the box on his birth certificate form!!! He also looks like he is going to have a nose like his other Grandpa! His name is Corvin Brock.....leave it to my parents to neither one be right!!! We held him, and made over him, and took pictures. But the hospitals new OB rooms are tiny, and not convenient at all--total shock compared to the rest of the new makeover in the hospital. We for all intents and purposes just ignored SOL. He insists the baby looks like his baby pics, so we said he looks a lot like sons pics!!! Finally Rick sat on the edge of her bed---SOL would not get out of the only chair in the room for either of us even when we were holding the baby. He told her "You know Dabs (nickname) I almost didn't come up here", when she ask why she had tears in her eyes...and he told her, "because I don't feel like I am wanted here, I had to hear about the baby 2nd hand, and then no one would give me information, and you never called back, and your husband ask us not to come up til tonight, I didn't know how to take that." Her tears overflowed and she looked at her husband, and said you guys told me you called him, and he mumbled something about thinking her Mom had called him. Rick called him on it, and said "When I talked to YOU, you refused to give me any information to even tell me if my Daughter was ok, and we were told no visitors were allowed!" He was getting irate so I made him take some pics, and you could see DD seething! She finally said it hurt her feelings that he waited so long to come up-------he told her, then talk to your old man--and I don't mean me! The whole time this exchange went on, her husband sat there staring off like he was intent on the TV! She looked at her husband, and Rick finally just told her "look Hon if you want me in your life and this little guys life, there is nothing that can keep me away, you just say the word" and without missing a beat she said "I always want you Dad". So he felt better, he let it drop, and on the way home he said that the asshole SOL better get used to this thorn, because he was not going away! Nothing can give him back today....and it is a shame. The bond we had with the other kids, was great, and it was a special time between Rick and I since we never had kids together--------------but at least he is feeling a bit better tonight. He said he wasn't going to say anything except while we were there the cell phone rang, he ignored it until the chime sounded that there was a voicemail, so he called and listened. When she ask who it was his reply was "don't worry about it, I'll call them back later" Rick said he knew then that she had never even been told who called. He said not right now, but he will tell her soon that we cannot call and get through if her spouse answers. Pamela--------I am glad your Lucy things got there. I know the watch is not your "style" it was simply and I Love Lucy item, and made me think of you! There was a local store going out of business and we found them, and I told Kinsey when I found the first magnet we were getting it to send to my friend, then she found the watch! We saw an I Love Lucy purse in the mall the other day, and she said let's get it for your friend!!! Love you lots Pamela, but I looked at the price and said "let's don't!"!! LOL Well I am going to check my mail, and call it a night---stressfull day! Thank you again everyone..... Kat

Did my 5 flights up, was panting~~then did 5 back down, and my knee was hurting by the bottom! Grandson is adorable. We ignored SOL completely. New grandson was born at 8:20 this morning, 8 lbs. 12 oz. 21.5" long, and is named Corvin Brock. He has light brown hair and kind of hazel eyes, already has a double chin! And his certificates, where they have room for foot prints, his toes go above the top of the box, and his heel extends below it as well! BIG feet!! Hard to say who he looks like at this point, SOL kept saying he looks like my baby pics, we ignored him! But we are not in jail! Will face tomorrows exercise tomorrow, but will do something....I promise! Kat

Hey all! Good to see you again Patty, how are the boys?? I posted a long and somewhat whiny post about my lifes latest issues(!) on the exercise thread. Short version----- DD was to be induced today, she was 8 days overdue, Son in law here on referred to as asshole, was to call when they settled her in. They hooked her up, discovered the baby was in distress, and took her for an Emergency C section. He never called, when we finally get through he refused to give any info, saying they would do it later as a couple. Being a total scuse me but dickhead. Now he is running the show, he is not allowing anyone in until evening but HIS family because this is their first and only grandchild and they deserve the special time for all they have done. My grandson was born at 8:30 this morning and I have not got to speak to our DD, and only have rumors as to his name even........ Wish me luck and send me letters in prison, if that little ass gets in my way, because we are on our way to the hosp.!!! BBL to tell you all about it! Kat

Laura, that really isn't something to mess with, throwing up blood. Now if he was already vomiting and it was simple specks, it could just be a tear in the throat. My DH when he threw up blood, it was in massive amounts....not to be super gross, but we ended up having to have a plumber out, as it coagulated/clotted in the toilet, while we were at the hospital---he had a double Mallory Weiss tear of the esophageal/stomach junction. In other words both sides of the esophagus where it joins the stomach ripped loose! He ended up with over 20 units of blood, countless platelets, in ICU for days on end, and on a ventilator! The Dr. told me he would likely bleed out and expire in a matter of a few minutes. It was without question one of the scariest moments, turning into days of my life. He is a walking miracle. Now what made his so bad, that Russel is not dealing with was that he was on massive doses of Coumadin blood thinnner following his heart valve surgery. But it is still scary, and seeing a Dr. is much safer! He needs to go!!! Terry, so sorry about your son. Wish I could help. My Mom and Dad went to the hospital, but I still do not know a lot.....My Mom says that Abbey told her the babies name was Calem Brock.....Dad says she said Caleb Brent! He had an Uncle pass away as a young man named Brent, so that may be true. Rick called back up there when Abbey never called back. SOL (no longer a son in law he is now a son out law), said she was asleep, and that she would call him later with everything. Rick said not a problem we would be up there shortly, and SOL told him that right now his family is having time with the baby, that this is their first and only grandchild, and they would like not to be disturbed, that maybe this evening would be ok. So I called the hospital, and sure enough no calls allowed through, and visitors must check in through the nurses station. They did however let my folks come back....... Wish me luck. Terry, been saying prayers for you right along with mine for us....will keep doing so! Hugs! Kat

He is such a mama's boy, it is unbelievable, we have always wondered what in the world DD saw in him. He is Mr. conservative, and is OCD, with germaphobic tendencies (cannot wait for new baby to poop ALL over him!!!!) Which is so bizarre because his Mama he is still umbilically attached to, is a hippie deluxe! Not was, but IS. Long frizzy hair, striped bell bottoms, gauzy shirts with no bra, braided vests.....and has like 9 dogs and 14 other assorted animals in the house! She is ALWAYS a mess. Seriously flopped a boob out of her demi bra at DD's baby shower!!! And had to be told, she did not notice! Son Out Law, however is creased pants, and dress shirt to camp in! He refuses to sit in our house or eat our food. He actually left our house one day when we were BBQ'ing, and went to Sonic and bought a burger, because he saw DH handle the hamburgers he was laying on the grill.....not sure how else you get them there....but doncha know Sonic never touches your food!! HAH! As mentioned before DH's ex is a bit psycho, certifiably so, several psyche ward stints, and heavily medicated.....so we kind of think his lack of personality, and lack of highs and lows emotionally is the draw for DD, who lived through her Moms manic outbursts. He has always been wierd, but we accepted it, this was/is too much. I hope there won't be bloodshed when we go to the hospital, but what better place??? We will go on good behaviour for our DD, and for no other reason, I had issues with him before, now I cannot even stand him. Shocked he was man enough to father the child! Thanks for the support, being able to vent to y'all here, and friends in other threads, keeps me from riling up DH further, and yet lets me get it all out. I do appreciate you!!! Kat