Kat817

PJTP-- I was originally going to offer a free son in law to anyone who wanted him...then realized I liked you all far to much to saddle any of you with the likes of him! As I said yesterday they were inducing my DD today. My older DD was induced when my granddaughter was born as well, and we were there from the beginning, and knew there was a lot to be done and too many people only made it more confusing. While they get her vitals, and admitted, and the probes in, and the monitor on, and the IV's started etc. So they were to call us as soon as she was settled.....they never called. Finally we hear from my son, that he got the SIL to answer his phone, and they got her hooked up, realized the baby was in distress and took her for an emergency C section! Son in law---now known as SOL son out law.....or SOB, and y'all know that one! He never called anyone but his family. Finally we get through, find out our DD is ok we guess, he refuses to tell us anything about the baby--as that is something he and our daughter will do as a couple, because she is afterall HIS wife, not just our daughter. He is such an asswipe! So not long after she gets out of recovery she calls us----and is trying to tell her Dad all the details and a nurse come in, so he took the phone and said she would call back. She never did...so we call again he says she is sleeping. So we tell him we are on our way up, and he said no, his family was with them now, that maybe this evening would be better, this was afterall their first and only grandchild and they deserved some uninterupted time with him---he would not even tell us the baby's name. We found out through a nurse that he has requested to calls to the hospital phone, and no visitors without checking first. This is technically my step daughter, but I love her dearly, but her mother is somewhat psycho, and this is pushing her close to the edge! She is crazy over wanting to know about her daughter and the baby. But until she comes out of the anesthesia and morphine enough to call and figure things out he is running the show. So I have a new grandson! He was in distress so I am praying he and my DD are ok......all the while wishing terrible things for my husbands SOL . Kat

Today I am going to be very tied up---but vow to take the stairs up and down at the hospital as I go to see my new grandson. Has been a very unhappy, while still being happy experience with this baby. They were to induce her labor this morning, and call us when she got settled. They did this with my other DD as well. It was about 10 or 11 by the time they got all the monitors set, and blood draws, and urine and all the crap done. So we waited, and finally called---only to be told by the SIL from hell that the baby was already born, he was found to be in distress and they took him C section. He would give us no info saying that was for he and Abbey to share as a couple with people she was his wife now, not JUST our daughter! And he hung up~! Just a few minutes ago, our (technically Ricks DD, my step DD---but love her and claim her as mine, have for many,many years) DD called Rick, and told him the baby was 8 lbs. 12 oz., 21 .5" long, and was saying what time when a nurse come in and she said she would have to call him back, and we have heard nothing. Right now my DH is sooooo mad at the son in law he thinks it is safer if he gives himself some cool off time before going up. I used to think maybe he would grow on us----now I know better. What an ass! Anyway----today I will take the stairs-and delivery is on the 5th floor! Not sure I will have much time otherwise, so this is gonna be all I say I will do. At least I am doing my best to avoid the chocolate. We got disturbing news concerning my Kinsey granddaughter yesterday too--they found a pronounced heart murmur so we are waiting to schedule an appt, with a pediatric cardiologist. Send me lots of prayers and good wishes for my grandbabies, and for patience for my DH and myself. Hugs~~ Kat

Shame on you girls! I finally dried up all my tears and then read your posts, and I just wanna say I love you all!!! And I have no idea what I did before you! Abbey called Rick finally a few minutes ago and was just starting to tell him everything, 8 pounds 12 ounces, 21 inches long, born at......and a nurse come in needing to do something so she is supposed to call him back. I told him in no uncertain terms in one way or another he is supposed to know that we were NOT notified in any way or we would have been there. I will update as info comes in. I in no way would take this out on her or on the baby--I love them both more than I know how to say-----but honestly have been fantasizing about wrapping my hands around SIL's throat.......maybe choking him with his Mommies long frizzy hair.............. Much love and appreciation to my girls! Kat

Hi~ Haydee, technically Abbey is not my birth child. She is my step daughter. And my SIL does not care for us, because we butted our noses into their business in an effort to look out for Abbey and he resents it. It began with her going to Denver with us for her Uncles funeral, just before they got married. His Mom offered to hire someone to follow Abbey so that they knew if she "behaved". Then we butted in when we offered to buy her a car, because she was walking 1 1/2 miles on a 6 lane highway to her job, because he didn't want her driving his jeep or his truck-both meticulously cleaned with q-tips in the vents etc. on a regular basis. So.....he dislikes us. The depth of that come out this morning. Abbey was told to call at 6 AM to make sure they had a room for her induction. She called, they told her to come in about 7:30, which put her in right with a new shift. Last night we could tell she was getting irritable with all the calls etc, she answered her phone "no, no baby yet!"! So....we waited to hear from her this morning.....nothing. Rick called to see if I had heard (like I would not have immediately called!!!) When I said no, he decided to call our son to see if he might have already called so as not to have 100 calls going in while they were trying to get her settled. He called, and was told the baby was already here. When they hooked up the monitor the baby was in distress so they C sectioned her. Rick ask him when he heard this, and he said something snotty about he called, like saying Rick should have, he said my Mom did and she is going up there. Rick called me, he is sooooo beyond hurt, and masking his hurt with anger, he is almost not able to talk. I know Abbey is likely just now coming out of recovery and I hope to God she calls her Dad....he is refusing to go up there right now, he knows he would get into it with the asswipe SIL. I called DIL, to see if son had said anything more to her....and she said SIL was an ass to him too, in fact his Mommy answered his phone, he was getting a drink, and he had to call Lenny back. So I have a new grandson, I do not know when he was born, whether he and DD are ok or not, how big, what his name is or anything. I only know I have some work to do to calm Rick down. I wish all kinds of horrible things on some people right now. Heart break does not begin to cover it. Maybe chocolate will help...I could sure put some away right now, but am doing my best not to. It did however show me that perhaps the Dr. is right, and stress was/is causing the hives, I am a mass of break outs now. Started last night---with Kinsey's Dx. Then this morning.....I look as wonderful as I feel. Thanks for all the well wishes for the baby and Kinsey, I do appreciate it...even if I don't mush sound like I appreciate anything today. Hugs~~ Kat

Ham & Cheese Soup This is a hearty and delicious soup. If you prefer use grated Cheddar or Jack cheese in place of the Velveeta. Taste before salting. 2 Tablespoons butter 1/2 cup carrots, chopped 1/4 cup onion, chopped 2 Tablespoons flour 1 tsp. paprika 1 teaspoon dry mustard 6 cups chicken broth 12 ounces Velveeta Light, shredded 8 ounces lite firm silken tofu, diced 10 ounces deviled ham (2 cans) 1 cup sour cream, light salt and pepper, to taste 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese parsley, for garnish In a large Dutch Oven over medium heat butter. Add carrots and onion and saute until soft and translucent. Stir in flour, paprika and dry mustard using a whisk. Cook for 2 minutes then slowly add the chicken broth whisking to prevent lumps. When soup is thickened add shredded Velveeta, the diced tofu and ham. Cook on a low simmer for 20 minutes stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve garnished with a sprinkle of Parmesean cheese and a sprig of parsley. Servings: 10 Notes: Per 1-cup serving: 264 calories. 19 grams protein, 15 grams fat (8 saturated) and 12 grams carbohydrate. Rich in Vitamin A and one serving has 53mg of calcium. It is not low cal, but it is high protein, and they are all losing weight doing the 5 day pouch test, and eating it like crazy! Most of them used ham as opposed to canned deviled ham, since they had leftovers with New Years! Some like the tofu, others didn't want it and doubled the ham. The tofu has no real taste, it ends up tasting like the cheese base, but it does have a very distinctive texture, if you can deal with it, it is a great protein boost. This says to cook in a dutch oven--and I know we have already had THAT discussion! a 5-6 quart pot is all that is needed. The recipe come from the link in the 5 day pouch test. There is another one, but it has not been printed in the thread..... Kat

Jane I hear ya, and share your pain! My meltdown was a combination of the dog, feeling sick, scary news.....and I have been a basket case ever since. I have been in tears most of the afternoon. Please send Kinsey healing prayers and purple power by the bunches. Manda took her to the Dr. today for this upper respiratory junk we all have....and her throat was sore so she wanted strep ruled out. And they found a pronounced heart murmur. He wants to see her again when she is well, saying sometimes dehydration of being sick makes them sound stronger. She is also making an appointment with her regular pediatrician, this was the MD Manda used to work for. I heard this, and lost it --- then come home and the damn dog had tore the house apart, and moronic SIL left the message that they were going to induce Abbey and he would be in touch.....like we would not be there....and I too was hysterical. My poor husband is going to need to be sainted after dealing with me lately.... Feel better Jane.....my sister in law told me tonight, that a guy at work told her when she was losing it that they might kill her but they couldn't eat her....that is supposed to help???? Didn't help me....how 'bout you??? Kat

Just to let you know, they are inducing my DD tomorrow. She has to be in the hospital by 6 AM for induction!!! So at some point her PITA husband likes it or not, we will be headed that way-------and my 2nd or 3rd depending who is telling the story grandson will be here!! And finally we get to hear the big secretive name.....sorry that just rubbed me the wrong way. Seemed VERY juvenile! Anyway, if you think my SIL sounds like a PITA, you should see his wierd ass mom!!! She is a hippie....not was a hippie...IS a hippie. Still wears her hair long and frizzy, and striped bell bottoms, and skimpy tops with no bra, and she is an easy DD. She wore a mini skirt sweater to their wedding. Yet SIL is Mr. conservative, and thinks his Mommy is #1-------totally wierd family. His Dad, his brother and his sister are/were all cops. His brother was recently fired for wrapping his mustang around a utility pole while drinking and driving, then claiming it had been stolen!!! My pooooooor future grandson. Oh and I give the dog to my Dad......long story, the little Sh*t is lucky to be alive and well at my folks! Gonna go finish up dinner, will check in later. Kat

Susan, a bunch of the Shrinking Violets group is doing the 5 day pouch test as well, and they have all sworn by the ham & cheese Soup. Some are doing it with the tofu, for added Protein, some have doubled the ham instead. Many of them are making it even after the 2 liquid days are up. And most have served it to the family, who like it as well. They are also now trying the sausage & squash or pumpkin or something-------they said they are really good, and very filling, and you can have all of it you want. LJM--good luck to you, they are inducing my DD tomorrow morning she is now 7 days overdue------so tomorrow or the next day if she is slow, I will have my 3rd grandson, and we will finally hear his name, they have kept it a secret! Off to finish dinner! Kat

I am doing so-so. I have a horrible sinus/ear infection. So I am going in shorter spurts. I must have got on the elliptical 7 times yesterday, but whenever I get my heart rate up it pounds in my ear! So I would quit, rest and then do some more. Our snow finally stopped, so hopefully by weeks end I will be able to be out and walking more. My treadmill is in the garage....which is normally fine, it is raised so putting it in the house it is always hotter the higher up you go in the room so we seldom used it. IN the garage, it is cool so I can work up my own heat, and watch TV....whatever, but it was cold and I was already chilled, so just bugged out on the treadmill yesterday. I am being really good about getting my Water in, and I am being more concious of getting up and moving. Or doing simple things like leg lifts while I veg in front of the TV. Trying to keep my head in the game, while my body ditches this bug. Will likely do the same today. I got on the elliptical earlier, and will be back in there for a few more minutes at a time throughout the day. I brought my free weights back in the house. I use dumbells and this thing Rick made me for exercising my arms--which are really bad! It is also really good for carpal tunnel issues my orthopedic Dr. said, so it is something I am going to do too. Will vow to use them today too. Kat

I unlike where you are coming from Pamela can pinpoint almost to the minute when my eating issues started, and led to my weight issues. Most of you know my story----I'll shorten it as much as possible! Married at 17, he cheated from early on, had my DD Manda, divorced, married again 4 years later, and he was abusive, seriously so, and had lied to me from day one, he was still married, was an ex con---all kinds of things naive me had never encountered before! Well one day well into the abuse, we were in the store, and we past a woman who was overweight, but not morbidly so, and he said to me that if I ever looked like that he would leave my ass. HELLO FOOD! Food had never been a big deal to me. I ate and went on with life. I had a normal reaction to food---like "normal" people do. There IS a difference! I have lived on both sides of this road and there IS a difference. From that day, I cooked different, adding butter, and cream, and ate tons more than I ever had or ever had wanted to. I even bought weight gain from GNC and drank it. In the end I know the weight helped me get him away from here, and allowed things to end the way they did. Then, I did not trust myself, my own judgement, I did not trust men-------so the weight was not a hindrence in that respect. I was scared of everything! So I stayed home, was an amazing Mom! And I ate. One day I woke up and realized I did not want Manda to be fat---and tried to change. And it come to light---I am addicted! I have altered the way I look at food, and how my body reacts to food. I have given my body wrong signals for so long, it no longer reacts the way it used to....period! When I was at my sweet spot with my fill, I felt like the old me again---food was not the be all end all. My brother is an alcoholic---------8 years sober, but he cannot drink, at all. He cannot have a small glass 3 times a day....and a shot for a snack twice a day. He has overcome (within reason) his addiction by total avoidance. I cannot do that with food. And where I cannot see him with his drinking issues, stopping after a civil glass of wine with dinner----he would binge.....I find myself doing that with food. And total avoidance is not an option. When Rick come back into the picture---he was already safe, and he already had my heart, so when he accepted me as I was --- it sealed my fate! And I have been trying in all the years since reuniting with him, to get this weight off, be the person I know I was---and the band was the only thing I found to do that......now I need filled back to that spot! I really think once you do whatever to your "eating center" and gain weight, it is changed permanently! It is different. Whether that change come about hiding food in a closet to eat after lights out when someone is 8 years old, or whether it is when you are in your 20's or 30's--------when you change....it alters how your body metabolizes things, and it is a battle from then on! Few people do as I did, and set out to be fat. I had no idea I was setting myself up for a lifetime battle! I ended up with a good life, and don't regret the moves I made, but wish I could do as I thought and just go back to being the old me, and eating and thinking of food the way I did then. Fever is gone, wish the hacking cough and stuffy head would go too!!! I had quit using my sinus spray----maybe a month ago and wham! Gonna go buy me another bottle of saline and Dr. it! BBL----gonna go eat some chicken salad. Kat

I don't claim to know much about the legalities of legalizing prostitution. But can see where it would create more government....BUT I can also see where it would create a much safer over all type of business, because as has been pointed out, it is not going away. Whether it is legal or moral or not it is here to stay. Oviously there is a way to make it legal, if Nevada has managed it for all these years. The way I see it, is it is a service. If it were legal, I could choose to use the legal, licensed prostitute working in a local brothel....or I could save some $$$ and find one on the street. Compare it to say, painting my house. I could look in the yellow pages, and find a licensed, bonded painter.....and have recourse should something go wrong, or I could save a few bucks, and hire the neighbors cousins boyfriend....and if he falls from the ladder, it is MY expense. The choice would ultimately be mine. A clean, legal transaction, or one more under the table, that I take the chances with. I have no experience with hookers, but figure not many of them will be falling from ladders! But, there are issues I am sure, and with things the way they are now....the hooker or the pimp will be who takes care of things---by taking care of you! Say you pay XXX amount of money for certain services, and feel those services were not met as agreed upon. Possibly with legalization you would have recourse by at least being able to complain without having the crap beat out of you! There are always going to be those going about it illegally, and in relation to the gangs---but if given a legal option, many of the prositutes, as well as those using their services may well opt to pay the taxes etc. for it to be legal, and not to land on the next show of 20/20 or Cops or something! Kat

I kind of lost belief in the Oprah thing when she said she just found out she has thyroid issues. That is something that should have been found long ago--it is something they checked me for when I had my post partum check up at 21! I cannot imagine someone with all the one on one attention she has, not picking up on that before. I wish for her sake she would quit looking down her nose at WLS. OK it might not be for her....I can accept that. But it is NOT the easy way out, nor is it instant success, but it DID improve my health drastically! Her situation really hit home with me, tho----knowing if she could not DO it, lose the weight and keep it off, with personal trainers and chefs, and all the help--then maybe I was not such a failure! It made me feel very human. But one thing I learned that she did not, during the down time in my history of yo yo dieting, I learned not to get smug!!! All it took for me to learn that lesson was regaining the first time!! I look forward to the rest of the week. I hope to get some good insight out of it all. I know that sounds like I am an Oprah hater, and I'm not! She just frustrates me like my cousin does, she always has a better way, and disses my decision to be banded, and yet she is still 300 pounds and has all the support at her fingertips and ignores it! One of my oldest friends come by tonight. She moved away 15 years ago. She divorced, and moved back to where her family was. She had a daughter, and not long after getting settled she decided she wanted to adopt. Being single was detrimental---even more so 10 years ago. So years later she still had no adoption in the works. In the end she adopted a little Vietnamese/American boy when he was about 2. He is 9 now, and one of those kids you can just tell is going to be Mr. Popularity! His name is Rhys. I thought that was awful---with his nationality---and it is pronounced Rice-----but it fits him so well now, and he is a totally cool kid! He has pale brown eyes---you can see his American father in there. Her Daughter is now 17! Going to graduate this year.....time flies! Well Jenn......I agree with all the advice given!!! The best thing to keep in mind in my opinion is that he might not be Mr. Right.....but if he treats you well, he can be Mr. Right Now! Don't go letting it get too serious too fast. And compared to Kev, most men will treat you very well----BUT he is human, and if it seems like he might be too good to be true---he may be! Take your time, enjoy your dates, don't try to see the future. If you feel like seeing him on Friday, do it! If you don't tell him you have plans. In the meantime, if he makes you feel valued, and makes you feel like you deserve better then good enough! Worry about YOU! And if he helps worry about you, then he might be someone worth having around!! Rick is having a hard time with my depressive state right now. He is the best at not pushing---but I catch him staring at me, his hugs holding on longer than usual, more just because phone calls during the day.....I know he wants to help. And knowing that DOES help. But in the end, this is something I have to deal with.....but having you guys there to remind me that shovelling food in my mouth is NOT helping----that helps too!! Well I am off to check my last load of laundry----I did all the bedding, I did laundry ALL day long! Kat

My Dr. looked at me like I was crazy when I ask if I could eat it or not! He said he had no idea what I could or could not handle, that everyone differs!! I LOVE popcorn! Love it airpopped, and love it loaded with chemical butter!!! LOL Heather I try to tell myself it is preserving me from the inside out!!! I don't eat it often----I do however have it every time I am at the movie theater---good thing I don't go often!!! We went and saw 7 pounds, and that is about how much I probably ate!!! As with all foods, unless your Dr. prohibits it, take it very slow---it is the only way you can find out if you are one who can eat it or not. Wierd things give people difficulty. Like Heather I can eat popcorn regardless of restriction level----but potato chips----they are a really slow go, so I just avoid them, they cause me pain digesting them.....go figure. One thing my band Dr. and I discussed when I originally talked to him, and I think I mentioned this before was to make sure the popcorn was crisp. When it is not fresh and crispy it seems to just squash down when you chew it, not break up. When it does that, it can swell into its original size when combined with Fluid in your pouch. Make sure when you chew it that it is really breaking up, not just compressing. Made myself hungry!!! Kat

I could totally relate to Oprahs ups and downs weight wise, if she would lose the attitude towards WLS. AND learn a bit from her own mistakes. I mean I yo yo'd too-----but after the first regain, I learned to not be smug about my losses!! To be proud is one thing, to be boastful and have a holier than thou attitude about it is something altogether different! She has been putting on weight for some time again-----when you see her on TV she is much heavier than her ever present picture on her O magazine. I noticed this month finally she has now and then pics. I have no issues with her getting fat again-----someday she will either have to accept herself the way she is, or acknowledge maybe there is another way. It is not the easy way out. And it can be life saving. To lump us all as lazy---and unable to do it HER way irritates the hell outta me! In fact very few of us CAN do it her way....personal chefs and trainers, and one on one help. And you are all right, if she just now was found to have a thyroid condition, then her Dr.'s have definitely let her down! They found mine when I was 21 years old! I took meds for years, then last year it grew a massive tumor, I was scared spitless my cancer had returned....but it was benign, but it come out anyway....wellmost of it, the isthmus (center) and all of the left lobe, and part of the right. I am still taking my meds! BUT.....I strongly believe any Dr. that you see if you have weight issues at all, will do a thryroid test standardly with your yearly blood work up. Sounds like the excuse du jour! I know, I made up a bunch of them in my lifetime!!! Kat Makes me feel my decision to be banded was even better than I realized.

I didn't cheat, but can I still ravish my honey????? Pamela my package did go out to you today, and I will PM you later with the tracking # on it. I was concerned with you not receiving things so put a confirmation on it, even though it is not monetarily something that I would seriously stress over if it were to be lost!!! She said it would take 3-5 days so hopefully by weeks end.... Ok girls, Rick is part of a weigh down with work. He wants to drop 14 pounds....go from 194 to 180. I lay odds that he has this accomplished in 2-3 weeks time. I cook for him, and pack his lunch. I know what he eats, and I eat right with him. He works all day, but is not extremely physical anymore....why does it drop off of him when he lays off the ice cream and potatoes, and not me??? They get to pee standing up (no nasty public toilet seats, or squatting in the woods) AND lose weight that easy? NO FAIR!!!!!!! Well laundry to fold, and a GROUCHY girl to entertain! BBL~~ Kat

Yes Haydee, I am surprised they pried you away to come home!!! We had plans of a tour through Mexico that some friends took, and it was through the little authentic places, they still rave about it. Then come the 9/11 tragedy, and all the security that ensued from that, and now I cannot get a passport! Which just saying it reminds me, I need to get moving on fixing that situation. I plan on going and changing everything from my SS card to my drivers license to having my full name, and even intend to hyphenate my last name to make it harder to match. I have had enough of being a possible threat to society!!! I have laundry going, and my beds changed....I need to go shovel some snow. But I feel like hell. I was up most of the night with an earache. Kinsey is down with it too, so we might just stay in our jammies, and work in the house today, and not even venture outside! Rick took my van to work. It handles soooo well in the ice and snow. And we left his car at the farm and had brought the truck home, which even with the 4WD handles like crap on the ice! It is an F250, deisel pickup--but it is like on the ice, the front end out weighs the back end so much you fishtail all over. And it is a big truck, so when you are in traffic, there is no room for the back end to be acting all hinky.....so, he has my van. Manda caught a ride up to work with one of the guys, so if I need it I have her car, but really do not intend on leaving home!!! Medicated the girl, and she is snoring hard. She is coughing so much, I gave her half a Triaminic cough strip--------and that's all she wrote! So far this morning, I listened to Manda complain that she sent Kinsey to her Dads with 3 pairs of jeans and got none of them back.......so she is mad. I know she will get them back---he is just VERY unorganized. Then my DIL called, and my son got his DD and her brother for the weekend, and she is complaining that they picked them up, and they come running to the car as is. No extra clothes---nothing. So they had to go buy socks, underwear, clothes, jammies--everything. Then his DD got unhappy when he kept them for when she visits next.... I am so glad I am not dealing with it any longer, I had all the same issues when Manda would occasionally see her Dad. And when the kids come to us it was always empty handed. Jane-----better call the Dr. If we are on pins and needles, I can only imagine how you feel!! Gonna go change laundry, BBL!! Kat

Hey girls, Thought I would drop in while I listen to my TV programs before heading to bed. Feeling really rough. You know the commercial where her head grows like a balloon? That is me! Well it just feels soooo tight! And I have a fever. YUCK! I did ok most of the day. We went into town in the snow and had breakfast, which I kept to low carb. Then we bought the stuff to finish the walls in the shop. We have it almost all insulated, and walls up----a mix of solid and peg board. My design! I have really enjoyed doing it! It was a strange day. Rick and I worked all day in the shop together. He would be getting ready to hang a board, and I would hand him his drill and he would give me this slow kinda smile....one I hadn't seen in awhile I realized! Still having a hard time pulling myself out of the place I am in....but, hopefully this will pass swiftly. I know that Michelle's SS is lost in space somewhere.....but I missed seeing what everyone got!!! I got a blanket --- hand tied fleece --- from Jennifer. And you got.....? Gina, I am not sure there is a one of us who has not had at least a minimal back slide, and some of us more than minimal!! We are all doing our best to recommit, and make an effort to move at least a little each day-----join us. I cannot guarantee it will help, but it makes the hurt a lot less, when there are so many understanding souls to lean on!! Well, I still do not have a new grandson, he is now 5 days late. She sees her Dr., on the 6th. So we will see..... It has snowed off and on all day, and continues to snow tonight. So Manda is getting a ride in to work with one of the guys, and Kinsey will be here even earlier than usual. Oh and I am going to rename this dog! His name is Potter.....I am changing it to Houdini! He has figured out how to open the latch on his kennel!! So I wrapped a hair thingie around it---a pony tail holder----nope he snapped that off and out he come again.....little beast looks so damn proud of himself when he gets out! I locked him in, because he was freaking out over the scream of the saw----I wear ear plugs, so I know it was torture for him, so I put him in his safe place....for about 5 minutes----then I see him at the window wagging all over. And being a pug, when he wags and is excited, he snorts....I hate to admit how doggone cute it is! Well I am off to check my mail and go to bed. Gotta run some errands tomorrow. And Pamela---I have a feeling you might end up with boobie pics deposited in your casket!!! TracyK you really WERE on a roll, each response with Michelle was perfect!!! Night girlies! Kat

I did it and it is ALL YOUR FAULT!!!! Rick went out to shovel walks and driveways-------and just because I knew I was supposed to be exercising, and could not take the dog out--I went and helped! We did ours which is big, and then the elderly man on the corners....I am exhausted!!! But .......SO THERE! It IS all your fault I got off my butt and out of the lazy boy!!! LOL Glad something forced me!!! Kat

Yep we watched the game Jane, he is funny looking, even among "normal" sized men he is small, let alone among the giants of the NFL!!! We went to a game when a friend played for the Ravens the year they won the Superbowl, and we went down on the field with Frankie after the game, even though I was at my fattest, I felt little among those guys. Now they had pads, and I did not, and I easily weighed right up there with them, but they were all huge it seemed!!!!! I am doing an exercise thing with the other thread I post on daily---my New Jersey friends!!! Yeah, I am well aware that I am in NM not NJ!!! We have a "Lookin' fine in 2009" theme goin' on----hope it helps me!!! If anyone wants to join in, they are another great group here on LBT!!! Most of them, like most of us, just hang out in the threads they are comfy with, not all over the boards much. I would love to have any of you there!! And I am not the only one not from NJ!!! In fact, there may be more of us NOT from there than there are that ARE!!! It is snowing again.....geeesh is is never gonna stop? I inherit this dog, and have yet to get him used to going on daily walks! Well I am off to bed.....see y'all tomorrow! Kat

Hi girls, as I said on the other thread, count me in for Monday.....that is my day! I vow to do 10 minutes on my elliptical, and take the dog on a walk......making a total of at LEAST 30 minutes of moving my butt! I used to do the 20 minute program on my elliptical without issue, but now that 10 minutes is going to kill me and make my legs feel like wet noodles....I did it the other day, and was so ashamed!!!! Keep going!!!!! Kat

Hey I found you!!! Sherry, I order SF syrups (flavorings) from DaVinci...it is something like www.davincigourmet.com . I also get some from Torani . DaVinci especially has a HUGE list of SF options! I use them for everything! LOVE the caramel or the toffee in my hot chocolate. They can be used to flavor shakes, or tea, or to make popsicles. I even use the coconut to flavor cakes---------yeah I know that eliminates the sugar free!!! I use LOTS of them. I have a wine rack in my kitchen---it is in the country decor like my house and is made up of horseshoes, and there is no wine in it, but it is full of the flavored syrups!!! You can mix the flavors....I like the chocolate with the coconut! When you order, you can ship like 3 bottles for the same price as one, it comes FAST and has never broken a bottle! I love the place, and they send you out a newsletter with recipes and drink ideas, all SF if you order SF items! Betty, you are not alone.....WE have no Wii either! I wanted one as well, but finances didn't see their way for that to happen, along with buying for the kids and grandkids, and parents.....the list was never ending! My DH's family refuses to draw names, and refuses to cut back and buy only for the kids----and it was just too much this year. I have had surgery 3 times this year, and even with insurance, it killed us! The company DH works for used to be based out of Houston--it still is, but they claim to be based out of the country now for tax breaks---and I hope the new administration taxes the crap outta them for it! Anyyyyyyway.....they buy insurance as a group and no matter where you live now your only option is BCBS of TX. So everywhere we go we are out of network--and pay out the yin-yang!! If we were in network our max out of pocket per year would be $2750.00, but being out of network, our max out of pocket is $15,000.00. AND many of the costs are not included nor do they count towards the Max OOP. It is horrible. We have met our max out of pocket for the last 5 years. Thankfully the year my cancer was discovered and treated we had a different insurance going into it, and they continued to cover me until last September in all my checks etc. I would LOVE to have them back again! So.....all that to say, I didn't see my way to buy me a Wii either, so will have to exercise some other way. If I ever get off the steroids I hope it will be easier. And if it would PLEASE quit snowing! LOL I inherit this dog, which is good reason to walk each day, and it has snowed almost non stop since! And he is little, he would frostbite his feet!!! And I have not been able to ride much....I am sick of this weather! I do have an elliptical and a treadmill, as well as several videos....so I CAN exercise. Might not wanna. Mostly I just need to get my head into it. Which is in the plan for Monday. Get Rick out from under foot!!! LOL I just refuse to exercise in the LR with him being home! Call me vain, call me petty....call me whatever, and I will agree with them all! That is something I only do alone or with my sidekick Kinsey, because she LOVES them!!! She does not laugh at me, and it takes her awhile to get the hang of what to do too! Well I am off to bed I think. Gonna go post in the exercise thread so I get notifications! See y'all tomorrow! Kat

Susan, my son and DIL, and my DD, TP'd our yard on my 40th birthday. I woke up to all these cars going by and honking--and I am on a quiet residential street...one of the last roads in town, so not well travelled usually. So I get up and peek out the curtains and about fell over! There was massive amounts of TP hanging in the trees....black balloons on stakes lining the yard, all the windows on our vehicles were blacked out. There was a huge mylar/silver sign on the garage door saying over the hill. And lining the road all the way from the highway are signs saying over the hill, and Look who's 40! Another big banner saying Look who's 40 hanging between the pillars on the front porch! I literally had cars slowing down and taking pics! And honking, and gawking the entire time we cleaned up. Yes he come and helped clean up....and over the years I have come to forgive him! Later in the day he had a "bouquet" delivered to me, it was black painted weeds....then later another bouquet....roses with the heads cut off! My gift he gave me, was wrapped in a coffin shaped box. They claimed it was for both DH and I, because he is 2 weeks older than I am, but they did it on MY birthday. I was shocked beyond belief when I saw that out the window! I said "Holy Shit!" and looked at my DH who was still in bed! It was unreal! I took tons of pictures myself! Hope the party does not get too wild! Kat

Welcome back Haydee---missed you lots girl--but was glad to know you were having a good time! TracyK---I LOVE it when you get so gung ho! It makes it all seem possible! And knowing that Macy is growing up seeing that strength, same as Kinsey sees in her Mom, it gives me hope for our future! Which is the exact reason that Jenn needed to move on! Not just for her, but so her kids know that is no way to be treated or to treat people. I talked with the NP at my surgeons office, and she said the pouch test is something I could do if I wanted, it is a basically healthy jump start to eating the way we should. But that there really is no "testing" my pouch or retraining it to what full is supposed to be, because unless I try to eat a whopper in 2-3 bites, I am not going to feel restriction again until I get a fill. Even a small amount she said would give me the feeling I had for the months between the TT and the intestinal twist thing. So I said find me a spot next week. Then I wake up this morning to it snowing like crazy! There are some seriously trecherous mountain passes between here and my Dr.'s office. I have gone 3 days now of not gaining weight! I am not losing but I am not gaining. So, if I have to maybe I can maintain until the roads are passable again. I have never had this be an issue. I was banded in April, and had fills in June and July, then only went in for visits when the weather was good. I did my unfil in April, and even my intestine surgery was in September----so winter has never been an issue til now.....and now, it sucks! She did say he may be unwilling to do much until I am off the steroids. And she said he HATES steroid treatment......so hoping that is not another road block! I am getting the remainder of my Christmas down today. Spent the morning in the shop with Rick getting the 3rd wall up....insulation, wrap then a combination of plywood and pegboard. I have never designed a shop before, and this is fun!!! I have him becoming so organized!! He has separate areas for all his air tools, and for the car needs (oil, brake Fluid etc.) and car related tools--like the oil filter wrench, and steering wheel pullers. And the front of the shop is half and half, one side is all SAE and the other is all metric! Down the other wall is all motorcycle related. He has all these separate tool boxes...he always had to look inside to find the right one. Now they are marked, one is all electric things, one plumbing etc. And they all sit lined up on his new shelves! With the motorcycle dolly and floor jacks stowed away underneath!! His wood stove now has a new wood box next to it! It is looking good, just in time for the welder to finish his frame, and he can go full steam ahead on his chopper! Well Christmas decorations are not cooperating, so I guess it is up to me to actually take them down.....dangit! Will check in later!! Kat

Called my Dad, made peace with him, he had no idea what I was so worried about!!! Go figure! I feel better now! Going to try to get son to meet us somewhere for an early dinner so we too get to see the grandkids. He has not so much as called....grrrrr Kat

Hi all~ Welcome Sue Sue! Great group here!! I am sitting here doing nothing, and there is so much to be done! I need to un decorate, I need to go to the bank--heck I need to get dressed! Nothing is getting done, I feel rotten, and am in a worse mood! I have to get over this..... My Dad went off on a tangent about the fact that my DD needs a credit card to get an airplane ticket. Pulling a $20 from his wallet and pointing out to me it said legal tender. It pisses me off so bad to be treated like an idiot! And I was in such a bad mood anyway and feeling bad I ask him, what you think you raised a dumb ass? I KNOW cash is legal tender, and I KNOW she could walk up to an airline ticket counter and outright buy a ticket with cash--------for 6 times the amount she can purchase it for 21 days in advance, and to do that, she needs a credit card! She is your granddaughter, she is not trying to rip off your damn card! He was so taken aback, and obviously upset by my outburst, he left pretty abruptly. I aplogized, and feel terrible----and there is no taking it back. I love him dearly, but his negativity was toooooo much for me this morning I guess. I will deal with my DD's ticket, he doesn't have too. Hopefully he will forgive me, and therefore allow me to forgive myself. I have not eaten today----but not due to the pouch test, just sick and lazy!!! I was mostly unfilled back in April before our Gruene trip. Then he totally flattened my band during the intestinal twist, he said it is VERY loose, providing no restriction at all, but is securely in place. So.....not sure the pouch test will do me any good, but thought doing in along with you guys might kick start me in the right frame of mind, and get things going in the right direction again. I think my issues are very largely related to the steroids. I mean I was doing pretty well, even with no fill until them, and then all hell broke loose! I plan on going next week if I feel better for a fill. I will postpone it if need be until this mucus clears. Well I am going to get dressed and go to the bank, if I do nothing else today! We might catch a movie. But I am sooooo full of complaints, I might just veg on the couch!! LOL I think I flipped a loose piece of cartiledge in my left knee, it is impossible to bend, it hurts so bad. It happens on occasion, and is super painful until it settles itself again. And on the one occasion it didn't "fix" itself, they did arthoscopic surgery on it, and it did ok for a few years. Hope this time is a fix it itself time, or I am gonna live in pain for awhile, I refuse ANY surgery for awhile!!! LOL I am going to use my knee hurting as a reason to try to get Rick to give the dog a bath!!! Wish me luck with that!!! LOL Kat