Kat817

SMS--very seldom does anyone around you know how they act behind closed doors. My ex husband sat on a guy in the bar one night while waiting for the cops to come, because he slapped his wife. All everyone else heard was this man standing up for the woman because no real man hits a woman he kept repeating. The only 2 people who knew he was spewing BS to them was he and I. He backhanded me on the way home for rolling my eyes at him while he talked to the cops! Now....I stayed in the relationship as long as I did, because he was threatening my family---he would threaten to go visit my elderly grandpa or my crippled brother--and he would have done it, I have no doubt. He threatened one night to hurt a friends husband who stood up for me if I did not get my ass out of bed and cook them breakfast---the friend eneded up in the hospital for 2 weeks! When I got my chance away from the family, and got him landed in jail, I got out. Waaaaay too many people were shocked by the idea he was abusive! It went beyond abuse, it was found to be attempted murder----mine----and he will remain locked up until next year. The things you say he says and does may not fall as physical abuse, but they are without a doubt abusive. Abuse escalates. While the references to getting him off the island make me crack up---do not let it get to a point of being dangerous. You now know you have contacts in many states.....you can get out safely. Ok......stepping off my soapbox now.....hillarity may continue...... Kat

YAY TRACYK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Plateau broke!!! Go you! TracyKS, if you have seen a positive reaction to the meds, then I believe it is worth finding one that lasts long enough for him to fully benefit. Sounds to me as though you made the best decision for your son, regardless of all the obstacles in your way making that call!!! My best friends son, I mentioned that was on meds for ADHD turns 26 today, and he will tell you it was wonderful. He used to tell us there was lightning in his head, and when it lightninged (his word!) he couldn't stop himself from scribbling or making a scene. And when they got him properly medicated, they tried 2 different ones, he was a totally different child. Not a zombie---far from it, but he was able to control himself. She tried letting him go off of it the last year of Junior High, because there are even stricter guidelines here for HS meds, he ask for it back, he said he could feel impulses in his head. To this day to get him to describe it sounds like an alien abduction! LOL Good for you--sticking with it until it improved for him! Kinsey is still sleeping, and when she wakes up we will begin our pie baking! When we get them done, we will see what time we have left and might do some other things.....like a birthday cake for her Mama! Manda's birthday is Friday. Becky and her family and our family usually get together for birthdays and holidays---this week is a bit chaotic Today is her oldest sons birthday, tomorrow is Thanksgiving, Friday is Manda's birthday, then the weekend, then Monday is Kinsey's birthday and Tuesday is her youngest sons birthday---all in one weeks time! It isn't so bad now that the kids have all outgrown wanting a separate birthday party! When they were young, we would have Chris', then Manda's, then Thanksgiving would always fall somewhere in there, then by the time poor Cory's birthday fell, we were so sick of parties and cake it was pathetic!! LOL Well, I have been working on this post for well over an hour.....Kinsey is now up, she has breakfast in front of her, and I am going to get set up to begin baking! Will check with y'all later! Kat

SNT--not sure how or why the soap in the bed works----but it does for us. Actually it works other times too!!! LOL He does nothing "with" the soap, it is something in it I guess. I say it works other times because the first long motorcycle ride in the Spring, he invariably cramps up right where your legs join in the groin.....from the non use during the winter I guess. Well he took a bar of soap from a motel, the small ones, broke it in half dropped half in each pocket....no more cramping. My MIL gets cramps in her arches when she takes off her shoes at night, so she says she rests her foot on a bar of soap and it helps..... I have even heard people say it helped with their restless leg syndrome....but have no first hand experience with that. The lack of cramps from it being in the bed, I can personally attest to! When I finally decide I seriously need to exercise again, and over do....which I do a couple times a year or so (!)----it helps me! But like I say, you do not have to ingest anything, nor buy any high priced product.....and if it doesn't work for you, you can still use the soap.....so there really is no harm in trying it! Hope it helps some of you like it did us! Kat

We had a wonderful party!! It got off to a bad start, the party they had scheduled before ours was a bunch of RUDE and ignorant people! They had the room booked from 5-7, and when we arrived to get ready, they would not leave....when we left at 9 they were still in there, laughing about it....and according to the 2 that waited on our group, the wait staff for the room had been run ragged, and as of yet, no one had paid! So they ended up setting our group up in a corner of the main dining area, but they were VERY helpful, and apologetic, and went above and beyond in taking care of us. Kinsey looked precious, she had on a little dress that come just below the knee, it was black velvet on top with a big hot pink sash and then a white double layer skirt with flowers around the hem, white tights, and little black shoes. Just adorable! She was thrilled with her gifts, and she let the other kids help tear open, without getting mad (which was a BIG surprise!!!) When they brought out her cake and sang to her, she sang right along with everyone. And when anyone would tell her Happy Birthday, she replied Happy Birthday back to them, just like if they were telling her Merry Christmas! I ask her as we were getting ready to leave if she had a good birthday, and she looked at me quite serious and said "It was a REALLY good birthday Granny, didn't you see?" She hugged everyone---including the girl and guy who waited on our tables! She gave them cupcakes! Which made the cook staff jealous, so we all avoided bringing home left over cake by sharing in the restaurant! My DIL made a joking comment to Manda something about getting everything put away and just in time for Christmas, and Kinsey told her "I don't need nussing for Christmas!" Wonder how long that will last? Probably til she got home and saw a commercial for something she did not get!!! LOL Tomorrow she is going to help me do my pies, and we are going to prep some things for the next day----cut celery and onion for the dressing etc. She was all thrilled because she got a little apron tonight, she is going to bring it she said! So Tracy....are you avoiding all you baked today?? That will be my issue tomorrow!! LOL Looks like we might have 14 here for Thanksgiving, I invited my son in laws Mom and her long time boyfriend tonight....so if they show it will make 14. A guy Rick has been friends with for years is coming, he has no family around, he has joined us before when we had dinner here. Other than that, my parents and brother, and our kids. I do not have anyone staying over tho......just for the feast! Was a happy fun night, hard for me to believe my granddaughter is 4!! She was an unexpected blessing, and then when she was born she was sooo tiny (4 lbs), but she is thriving! Lots of things to be thankful for! See y'all in the morning. Travel Safely Pamela, and many prayers are going with you. Night! Kat

Congrats on the banding Froggi! For those of you with night leg and foot cramps---I know it sounds wierd, and I cannot tell you how it works or why, only that it DOES work for us..... Put a bar of soap in the foot of your bed. I put ours between the mattress pad and my fitted sheet at the foot of the bed, out of the way. They do not recommend using Dial or Dove, something is not in them that works I guess. My DH got the calf muscle charlie horse type cramps several times a week---this put an end to them! When he gets one, we change out and put in a fresh bar of soap. Try it! You have nothing to lose, if it doesn't help your cramps, throw the bar in the shower and nothing lost!! Hope it helps! Kat

We had the best lunch! We went to a little Bistro here in town. I mentioned when they come to get our order that we were out for Kinsey's birthday. They brought her drink in a wine glass, with cherries. Then they brought us a small plate with finger sandwiches as an appetizer! All the staff come by to tell her Happy Birthday, and they gave her a stuffed bear with a ribbon around it's neck that said Happy Birthday! Now I cannot say that I have ever really even seen kids in there, but they totally spoiled her. Was such fun! They did not charge for any of the extras and gave us 25% off of our ticket for her birthday---which of course was made up for partly in a big ol tip!!! Now I am ignoring her! Sounds horrible, but she is lying down watching Looney Toons, and I am hoping by my ignoring her she will take a nap. If she is not asleep in a few minutes, I will take her in and we will lay on my bed, and 'both' take a nap, til she nods off. It is dreary out today, rain moving in for the next couple of days turning to snow over the weekend the weather forecast says. Judy, they used to put bows on my Moms male poodle as well as her female, and he hated it, he would hide his head under the edge of the couch, or bed, or under a sofa pillow until you took them off! Then he was fine! Have my laundry going, need to unload the dishwasher. We will be eating out tonight, so no need to mess with cooking and dirtying up my kitchen!!! Tomorrow I have lots of baking to do---several pies---yummmmmmm. Everyone has their own favorites, so I try to accomodate, then send them home with them! Manda wants chocolate pecan, Rick wants caramel pecan....and I am going to make one of those for my Dad sugar free, see how it turns out! My brother prefers plain old fashioned pecan pie, Mom is the pumpkin pie eater, along with SIL, and son wants cheesecake!!! DIL says any of it is good! I don't care for pumpkin pie---but the rest I will eat! Oh I won't eat all of them, but I will wanna!!! My DD was at her now weekly OB appointment today, and the baby is dropping into position already. When he measured her, he said the position had changed, but they did not do any other tests or anything. She said she has noticed her belly touching her legs when she leans forward or sits straight up now. I HAVE to get crackin' on the stocking, we may well have a new grandson before Christmas! I bought him 3 little onesies the other day one is blu and gray and says 100% Boy, one is blue and says I love my Mommy, and one is red and says Dads MVP. I might ought to do some more shopping! LOL Til then, I am off to get some things done. Feeling lucky I am not facing Michelles day!!! Too much work! Kat

Well, Pam missed me too Michelle----but guess we can forgive her!!!! LOL I always end up leaving someone out, and it is never intentional! We are knee deep in primping at my house!!! Now we are going to lunch. She is dressed and ready, so I am taking her to lunch, just her and Granny, figured it is time to start a new tradition. Will do it again on Monday which is actually her birthday!!! Granny's perogative, I do believe! I'll be back to check in after we get get home. XOXOX Kat

Man there were monkeys flying all over the country today!! I got mine too!! Thank you Tracy! Kinsey did not think I should open the package, it is HER birthday! LOL. I opened it, laughed my butt off, and then said something about not needing a monkey, I had not disappeared---went sailing right over my DD's head, the significance of the monkey! On the other thread I frequent (tho not in awhile, I need to go!) I got the monkey once for being MIA!!! LOL There we kept it until someone else was slacking off then we sent it on to them, I LOVE having one of my own to keep! Thanks so much!!! Made stew for dinner, it turned out yummy!!!! Made Rick some chedder garlic biscuits like Red Lobster---I avoided them....which was easier said and typed than done!!! Tomorrow I am doing laundry----and having a primping--girly day with Kinsey. Tomorrow night is her big birthday party. It is early, but is being done to accomodate some family members. It was now or wait til after her birthday, and Manda did not want to wait to give her her gifts, even tho she wouldn't have known, it felt wrong!! So tomorrow night is it. They reserved the back room at Fuddruckers, and there are going to be clowns making balloon toys, and they will bring the cake in and sing. There are a couple of games....lots of balloons & her cake is actually cupcakes with light up Disney princesses on it---their skirts light up. She chose Ariel, and they were out of the Ariel kits for the cakes.....so she picked this which is fine! I'll take some pics. Anyway, tomorrow she will get a bubble bath, and a lotion rub down on the massage table, her nails painted, and whatever other froo-froo fun I can come up with!!! And hopefully a nice looooooong afternoon nap so she is in a good humor tomorrow night!! Ooooh Jane, I think I will let her have a pedi with the foot soak goodies you sent me, they are almost gone!! So Michelle was DS happy with his party the other night with all the fellas?? Laura, great pics! Well, going to go clean up the kitchen and put in some stocking time....or it will not get done before he makes his appearance. Will check in with you girliez later!!! Kat

I used to take Nexium for reflux....have taken meds for it since way before my band. Before banding I used Aciphex with wonderful results. Post banding, it was not good, my food didn't digest quickly enough with that much less acid. Since banding, he put me on Nexium, then later told me to use Prilosec OTC, which is the same medicine in caplet form vs. capsule. Nexium being name brand cost me $40 a month--Prilosec ---or actually the Walmart equivalent is less than half. Normally I don't have issue with it, but like now, with my cold--it will cause problems. I had a hiatal hernia fixed when I was banded, but it herniated again about 7 months out....so it is back again. Even when it was fixed he had me take meds for awhile, and about the time we quit---it popped! Both of my parents have hiatal hernias, as does my brother----so I don't blame the reflux on my band at all. And like now I have no fill at all, and still occasionally reflux. It does suck!!! Today I am taking my Mom and we are doing our Thanksgiving dinner shopping. Then I am running my neighbor in to buy some wrapping paper she needs. So will be back in sometimes this afternoon. Kat

Thought I would check in and see what y'all were up to today! Everyone sounds busy!! Terry, the stuff I buy is called Body Butter Cream and it has ingredients listed on it, and the oils are oils I had never even heard of! Let me grab it. Ok, so usually labels are printed by order of how much is in the product....so this is the beginning...Helliantus Annus Seed Oil, Sojo Hispida Oil, Chinesis Seed Oil, De-Ionized Water, Natural beeswax......and on it goes. But I have never even heard of any of those oils!!! This is without a doubt the best massage lotion, I have ever found! And I put it on my feet in the summer and slip on some socks for a while, and it keeps them feeling soft! I do not have any cuticle issues if I use the lotion on Ricks back once a week or so!!! LOL When I talked to her at the craft show this weekend, she said she could make the body butter in other scents, if the scent is one she has, she can usually use it. So if you want something not listed as a usual scent, call her, I bet you could order it. My Aunt that was here for the weekend, and I are very close. She is my Mom's younger sister, and 10 years younger than my Mom and 10 older than me! She has a granddaughter just 3 months younger than Kinsey. So she was so excited to see Kinsey. She was blown away by her! She looks and acts so much like her older granddaughter! In reality, Kinsey does look like her Mom and I, but there is a lot of my Aunt in her too. She was surprised at how talkative, and outgoing Kinsey is! She said Quinn, her granddaughter this age is very quiet and rather shy.....so unlike Kinsey!!! She brought Kinsey 3 big bags of clothes! Love that! Spent some time working on the babies Christmas Stocking....it is slow going! I need to take some time and just sit down and work on it. But to spread out all the things I need with Kinsey around is not easy! Maybe after Thanksgiving things will slow down for a week or so. I am helping a friend decorate a tree for the Festival of Trees. There are going to be 35- 50 trees, all decorated, and gifts under them. Each donated by a group, business, or family. Then visitors can buy raffle tickets, 2 for a dollar, and they go around and put the tickets in a can by the tree they hope to win. The drawing is held on Sunday afternoon, and if their ticket is drawn, they get the tree and gifts. They also hold a teddy bear show, and have a luncheon with a fashion show....all the proceeds from everything go to the hospital volunteer groups, they buy things for the pediatric unit, and have even bought hospital equipment before. It is always fun. As of the other day she had not settled on a theme yet......I do know we have a 6.5 foot tree, pre lit!!! LOL Rick got the Springer front end on his bike, it really looks good----he is totally happy with it. Could not have cared less that his football team got whomped!! Terry, I wore my earrings, and come home with both of them!! Right off the bat, my Aunt tells me she loves them! I told her how to find your site on Etsy. They decided that Gary (my best friend Becky's DH) has ulcerative colitus (SP?). They have him on some sort of meds 3 pills 3X a day, and on prednisone steroids for a month. If he is not improved and eating without issue in 2 weeks, he is headed for what they hope to be a temporary colostomy! So that the lower intestine can heal, then after a few months they would try to reverse it, and see if the intestine has become less inflamed. He looks so bad, it is scary as hell! Well, guess I best get myself ready for bed....seeya in the morning! Kat

Awwww Pamela, I just cannot imagine and I am so sorry you are having to go through all of this. I know you are strong, but with a heart as big as yours, the pain has to be big too....and I wish I could help. Lean on Susanne, she can take it, let her help you. I feel like moving on to another subject seems so uncaring, and I do not mean it that way at all Pamela!!! Terry---I got my earring yesterday, and it is a perfect match---thank you so much! I am wearing to to lunch today with my family---but I am putting those little plastic slide on stoppers on---I am being cautious this time! Girls I am really upset with my DD. Please pray for us --- 2 things, #1 that I gain understanding and forgiveness, and #2 that she regains at least half a brain!!!! We have family in from out of state, was nice spending the evening laughing and visiting with them. We are all going to lunch after church today--so I am going to have to go decide what to wear (translated that means, find something to match my new earrings!!) Is going to be another beautiful day, but our weather is due to change by Wed, and we are supposed to have a white Thanksgiving.....which is ok I guess. Would have been kind of nice to have this weather where the kids could play outside--but that is ok. We made it to the craft show yesterday, and I bought my body butter stuff. This woman makes the most creamy, oil induced body cream I have ever found! I can massage Ricks back forever with one application of cream, the oils heat up, and let your hands slide easy, but it is creamy.....strange but we love it, and she makes scents that are not all froofy and girly. I bought some for him in a scent called Oakmoss Sage. I love the Plumeria so we bought it too. This womans job ended right around Christmas one year, so she began making candles to give her family & friends as gifts. Then one of them wanted to buy some for others....and it kept growing. Then she found out she was pregnant, and chose to make herself a home based business instead of looking for other work. So she did, and the baby was always with her. When the little girl was 18 months old, they found she had a disease that would let her live no longer than 5 years. She died when she was 3. She loved to help & play with the candle supplies. They have a picture of her with all the jar rings (she uses canning jars for many of her products) all up and down her arms. Eventually she branched from candles to bath salts and body creams, and now also makes soy candles. And they are wonderful!! Many of the labels have pictures and names in memory of her Daughter....one called Angel Whispers, there is an entire collection called The Turley Tot Collection(Turley being where they live) non of it in a sad way, but in a celebratory way. She is just a really sweet woman. I got to meet with her and talk for awhile with her while arranging some gift baskets for DH's company party. I have no interest in her business besides loving the lotion---but if you are interested it is www.WillowWicks.com Well I am off to get dressed, and plan my day....Rick is putting the front end on his chopper----I may not be able to drag him out to dinner!!! LOL talk about a boy with a toy! Kat

"Accidentally" leave your screen open on one of the pages, so he can read for himself, and see nothing is going on. More often than not I am sitting on the sofa with DH or he is in the recliner right over my shoulder from where the desktop computer is....so I couldn't hide anything if I wanted....neither could he. But I will admit, it has to be similar to me getting so irritated at his work stuff. If he isn't there, one of his hands, or one of his friends from work has him on the phone, sometimes I wanna scream!!! THAT is when he sees me get up from snuggling with him on the couch and come to my desk top computer. When you check out....so do I! He actually GOT it! LOL He does however work lots of hours, it is booming right now, and we are taking advantage, so maybe the bust won't hurt us quite so bad. That is not a comment towards our recent election, it is just the nature of the oilfield forever....boom, bust.....boom, bust. We have lived it before!! Kat

Just look at the flowers and know we are there with you....we love you, and wish there was more we could do to try to make this time easier on you. (((((HUGS)))))) Kat

Hi Brenda, I am in Aztec-have been banded for over 2 1/2 years now, if you have any questions let me know and I can PM you a phone #! Good Luck! There are getting to be quite a few of us in the area, so maybe someday we can actually get a support group going!! Kat

((((((((((HUG))))))))))) Pamela, know we love you and are with you in purple spirit! Kat

I have the master list from last year at Christmas. I updated Haydee's when her birthday card come back to me!!! And I have TracyK's new address. I do not think that I have the new house address for you Denise. So let's do it this way......if you have moved in the last year, or changed address, or any other info----PM me and I will update the list and send it out to everyone next week. Right now the list contains name, spouse/SO/kids names address phone # cell # private email This info does not go anywhere but to our Violets. There are times when the site goes down we are really glad to have the info!!! Well.....Rick and I went out last night....and I have a weeeeee headache as proof this morning!!! We went to a local restaurant/bar. Restaurant in the front, bar in the back. We used to go there a LOT when it was only a bar over 20 years ago!!! We sat in the corner, had too much to drink, had an appetizer basket, and talked. He feels guilty for the crap we are constantly dealing with over his ex.....and I had some anger to bitch out!! LOL All in all, it was a nice time to reconnect, and realize he is not responsible really either, and feels totally beaten by it. So once again we are united on one front against her....felt good to connect again. Not that we were fighting over it, just each of us dealing with it in our own way and now we are together doing it. Well we are off to get his glasses finally, and then going to hang our Christmas lights, we are not as ornate as Judy, we outline the house with the standard icicle lights and have hanging snowflakes between the porch posts out front. But it is ok I like it, and we are able to get them up in under 30 minutes, from shed to done!! The hooks are all in place, the strands numbered. Took awhile 5 years ago, since then, it is a cake job!!! LOL Then we are off to a movie. Guess we are on snuggle mode, since dealing with this. Going to enjoy it, and eat popcorn, and will cope with the weight tomorrow!! Tracy I agree, it is Water retention. After dehydrating, the body is holding on for dear life to all the fluids it gets! Is likely part of the medication make up for it to help do just that!!! Hang in there girl your POP (changed to Puke off Pounds now) will kick in, when you spend every other minute peeing!!! Laura good luck figuring out your rashes!!! BBL to catch up with everyone else. Hugs~~ Kat

Hey girls, TracyK, I am so happy for you! I wish we were having as good of luck. Some of you know....not sure about others, but we pay child support on a child we have proof is not Rick's. But the courts decided since he had paid while waiting for the test results--thinking it was the right thing to do---he set precedent, and has now paid for years for her, without so much as seeing a picture, or hearing a voice. Since we pay, and Mom does not work, we have always claimed her on our taxes. Today we got notice from the IRS on our last years taxes, apparantly she got a job--kid not Mom---and claimed herself! So now we have to repay the child credit, and penalties.....well over 4 thousand bucks. It pisses me off so bad---her claim was filed 4 weeks after ours claiming her. OK I can deal with paying back the child care credit, but they wait til November to notify us and are charging us interest and penalties for 11 months! Rick is off on his bike he is so stressed.......me? Doing everything I can think of not to eat. Guess I will go and play with Kinsey, she is really quiet, I think the chaos and upset has her upset too.... Will talk to y'all later. I know it is wrong to wish time away, but man I wish the next year and a half would fly on by........get that witch and the child out of our lives forever! Somedays I want to slap Rick for ever in his life having her in it--and she was before my time!!!! Kat

Well I have been sewing away on the baby's Christmas stocking, and time got away from me, so I am off to bed! I made progress tho! Suzanne, I rec'd the email, and I can totally relate. I too am a year ahead of most of our Violets, and find myself growing weary at times, of feeling different. But the more I pay attention to the friends I have who have always been normal or minimally overweight----they work their diet similarly to what I do. If they plan to go overboard, the alter meals before then after. I guess before the band, I was so self concious of my own eating issues, I totally blocked out how others handled their weight and eating. I know I am truly jealous of those who can still do as I did when I was younger, and eat anything and everything without a single pound being gained. Rick's secretary, is a little thing, maybe a size 5-7. She eats non stop! She ALWAYS has something on her desk snacking away. Her concern over it? She always asks me if she has dorito breath!!! I eat those doritos all the time, and I would gain weight! I have observed over the time, that almost all bandsters at about 6 months out hit a first hard plateau. Then about 18 months in, it gets really hard again....and when you get past it, it seems to be easier for a few months....but those banded about the time I was, that I talk to, all mention the same emotional let down----I don't know if it is that people are not noticing the additional weight loss, or if we are not noticing the big differences....or what, but we are losing momentum! One positive we have that many of them do not----is each other! I don't know how they handle the ups and downs with this without the support I have found in our Violets!!! Hang in there.....we are all in this boat together, let some of the rest of us row for awhile!!! We will all take turns!!! I am tired to a point of being goofy....so off to bed. But on a more serious note......NO raisins in my stuffing especially!!! LOL----no fruit, I save it for the salads and desserts! Can you believe my DIL does not like fruit at all??? Rick is off through Tuesday----will be hit and miss for me! Kat

Hi all~ TracyK---be careful, and if it gets to where you cannot keep fluid down--go to the band Dr. I don't care if it is a $$$ issue---life is more important-I almost learned that the hard way!!! TracyKS-glad the meds are seeming to take the edge off for Robby. I used to think too many kids were medicated, but after talking to a couple of adults who are ADHD, and watching Becky's oldest go through it----there are times it is totally called for! And it sounds as though Robby needed it!!! LOL kids gotta love 'em! We have had such wierd weather--tshirts the end of November! It has only snowed here once, and we missed it, we were in TX. Such strange weather!! I am going to do like Judy and we are going to get our Christmas lights up this weekend. We won't burn them til after Thanksgiving, but it is so much nicer putting them up when your fingers are not numb from the cold & wet! Pamela---ask Santa for a new chair!!! Hope you too are feeling better! Laura we began doing the Angel tree when my DD was in Kindergarten. Many years I had to search for one I could afford and yet do right by....but we still did it! We still do, and she does as well. When Rick and I got together, we would all go, and each of us pick an angel. Now Manda and Jason go, and this year Kinsey gets to pick an angel! When Manda and Jason were in Hawaii, and could not come home, they did the angel tree there, and bought scooters for 5 different kids--it was when the scooters were the big deal and had just come out big again. She said she was so excited to take them in!! Bought my brothers Christmas today, and some onesies for the baby...too cute! Also managed to sneak a baby panda "Fur Baby" past Kinsey and under my coat into the cart today! She was playing a game at the shop today with this little boy, the game was called Pick Out Sticks. Was a round game table with these sticks poking out of it, and you use a pair of plier things to remove them, and I don't know if it is a certain way you pull them or if they are random, but it buzzes sometimes like the old Operation game. She was getting so tickled over it she was making everyone laugh! The boys Mom said she picked it up in Walgreens, might go look for that, she was loving it! Laura, even if they put your FIL's stents in this week---it should not interfere with Thanksgiving. They make the incision usually in the groin, and thread a small cable through the artery to the place they want the stent, then the stent is on the end of the cable, and the end of the cable inflates like a small balloon--causing the plaque and thickened blood to be pushed away, and compacted into the artery wall, and it opens the stent, then when they deflate the balloon, the stent remains behind, holding the artery in a full open position. The only incision is in the groin, and it usually has a plug in it---that dissolves in a few weeks. My Dad is told not to do his full walk (5-6 miles a day) for a few days, and then is released to normal activity soon after stent placement. As for the stuffing, we always have 2 kinds. My MIL does a cornbread stuffing and puts apples in it. My DH does not like it at all---he wants more traditional, so I do it. His sister sometimes brought another one all together with sausage in it! I would call your Granny ahead of time and tell her that your MIL is bringing some of THEIR family favorites too, and that you appreciate them understanding that Russell too has traditions. Act like she is going to accept it without issue, and maybe she will!!! My ex husbands family never had stuffing/dressing of any kind, they always had turkey and noodles. So my DD thinks we have to have them too.....so we do I always have a bowl of noodles for her---but everyone eats them too!!! Thank heaven for Grandma's brand noodles! His family mixed and cut noodles all morning to cook for the meal----they were good, but waaaaay too much work to do along with everything else! Well off to check my stuffed jalapenos, they should be about ready to come out of the oven. Catch y'all later. Is anyone else getting any email notifications yet? I'm still not. Kat

Is your band surgeon or fill Dr. close by? Do they have hospital priveledges if you should need an emergency unfill due to post op nausea? That is how I would make my call. That and be totally honest with yourself about your ability to eat healthy enough to recover well from your surgery if you are filled. I had a total unfill prior to my TT because my band Dr. is 6 hours away! If I needed to be unfilled due to post op problems, I would not have been up to a 13 hour day----6 there, the appointment, and 6 home. That is a hard day normally, let alone following surgery! I probably did not need to be unfilled. I never experienced any nausea....I was not tight, so PB'ing was not an issue. But it was nice not having to worry about it. Plus some family, and my best friend brought dinner in for us for a couple of days, and I did not have to worry about what they brought. A partial unfill, if it loosens your band, will not be much different in reaction than a total unfill, from what I have read on here....I have no experience to share. My hysterectomy and banding were total blessings, both of them! Good Luck on your surgery....take it easy, and the best (may also be the strangest) advice I can give....when he offers you stool softner RX---TAKE IT!!!! LOL Kat

Site is screwy, some of us have not been able to get on in the evening for a couple of days.....and no one is receiving email notifications that I have talked to........hurry up and get our LBT normal soon Alex!!! Kat

Please let the site be fixed now!!! It sucks so bad when it doesn't let me on!!! I left this morning, when I posted, and just got home a few minutes ago! I am exhausted! Tracy----I would talk to the teacher again, and tell her point blank, that while she is the teacher, you are the parent, and that is not a "punishment" you will accept her doling out. Suggest the loss of recess time or whatever....but taking food away from her is setting her up for a lifetime of food issues, we all know that from experience, and reading of others experiences on here!!! She is a little girl, and she needs the boost for her blood sugar, and her level of alertness in the afternoon--lunch at 10:30 then nothing til she comes home, what 6 hours later???? Not right!!! If she disagrees, take it up a level. I hit the school board twice through the years! Once when Manda was in 2nd grade over a safety issue, then again when she was graduating. That one my issue was with the Dean of Students, so there was no one else to go to, just the board and the superintendent. Worked both times tho!!! Stick to it, she is yours to protect. Sounds like a whiny teacher....not sure why whiny comes to mind, but that is the feeling I have of her!!! LOL I took my parents out to the shop today to show them the shop stools I got from Mac Tools for Rick, and Kinsey went with us, she walked in and did a quick intake of breath and says "Someone killed Papa's bike!!!" He has a bike tore apart and is making a chopper out of it, so parts are everywhere-was hilarious, my Dad got a big kick out of it! Michelle I am so sorry about your friend. I cannot imagine. Cancer is so friggin' scary, and even when they are confident that they can treat it, you have the face to face with your own mortality....you imagine at every visit you might hear the words, of there being nothing more they can do.....but for it to be a reality, and to leave that office with that knowledge is something my nightmares were made of....and to have a young child. My heart and prayers go out to them. Suzanne, that is too wierd for them to beat that guy up and it not be a robbery. Almost like it was a message. Maybe he was messing around with someones wife....or drugs or something??? Tomorrow the shop is having their Thanksgiving dinner at Rick's work. So guess who is doing the cooking to take!!?? They are deep frying turkeys---and he always supervises that, some of those guys are of questionable intelligence!!! LOL He agreed to bring potatoes and a dessert. When most of them say they will bring a dessert, they stop at Walmart and buy a pie. A pie.....and there are 25-30 people in the shop, and spouses are invited!! So I made a HUGE bowl of banana pudding. It is Rick's favorite, so I figured what the heck, it might not be punkin' pie, but it will work!!! I am taking Kinsey with me tomorrow. Rick is the shop foreman, and Jason, Kinsey's Dad is the Electronic Technician foreman....and Manda cannot be here to go with him to the dinner, so I am taking his daughter to him to have lunch!! We were in Applebees for lunch and we were waiting to be seated, and there was a boy about 8-9 playing on the steps next to where we were sitting waiting. He was jumping from the top down the 3 steps to the floor below. Kinsey wanted to go play and we told her no (we being, myself, Rick, DIL, grandson, and a friend of Ricks from work). The kid stopped and said something to Kinsey and she tells him "Please don't talk to me!" she was so rude I questioned her------she said the kid told her she was a sexy girl! She has no idea what sexy even means----but she didn't like that kid, and I thought Rick was going to choke him right there. Danny, his friend from work, tells the kid "Go sit down, now!" and he did! He walked over and sat next to a couple we had shook our heads at. She was sitting on his lap....in the restaurant, and basically just making out. No wonder the kid knew words like that I thought! Well I am going to go see what come in in my email today----see y'all tomorrow if I have a minute!!! I should, I am making my pudding tonight, will assemble it tomorrow! Nighty-night! Kat

Hey all~ Haydee nor I could get on the site last night either, it is getting old! I am off for most of the day....lots of things to get done. Pissed off my inlaws, so plan on making it worth doing right!!! Drama!!! LOL Terry, they bought a new Camry---it is what they drive!! LOL It is really nice though! Will check in when I get home. Y'all be good!!! Kat

Hi~~ TracyK--our dollar stores and places like Family Dollar sell a cleaner called Awesome, it is yellow and costs a buck---it works better at removing ANY kind of stain in my carpet or on the clothes than anything I have ever found! It does not bleach out color or anything. BUT---it does eat paint.....my BBQ grill now is a guessing game if you are on high or low!!! LOL!! Try that----scrub some into the spot then hit it with your shampooer---it removed my grandsons grape jelly sandwich (another story of it's own!) where he dropped it on our carpet which is a VERY light tan color. Laura your FIL is likely having stents put in the arteries or maybe the veins in his legs. If you can picture a chinese finger cuff---the way they are like a lattice work that can be made to open or close----they are made of titanium, and hold the artery open---usually being incorporated into the arterial wall within like 24 hours! My Dad has several in his heart arteries, and 2 in the renal arteries. Dessert.......brownies.....or anything with toffee.....those would be my favorites, with my Moms Christmas fudge topping the list without question----I could eat an entire batch......it is SOOOO yummy!!! Jane, the person with their head down---likely had a retinal re attachment. My brother has had the surgery done no less than 7 times. He had a piece of plastic from a car battery go through his eye 20+ years ago. The retina has never stayed attached. The retina sits in the back of the eye and the shape of the eye holds it in smooth position. He lost all the fluid in the eye and tore the retina. Each time they operated on him he was in the hospital for several days on a striker bed, and on his stomach. They actually remove some of the vitrious fluid from the eye and replace it with a gas--so it will form a bubble and press against the retina they have secured.....until hopefully it heals in place. His has never held. Finally he decided he could deal with vision in only one eye better than he could another 2 week time on his belly. Rick is legally blind in one eye as well from a piece of metal going through his eye---and the retina is scarred so badly it ruined his vision, although it is still attached. Wow---earlier I ask about Judy's friends A fib---now this....I am feeling like joining Pamela in the Dr. category!!! LOL Well off to finish up dinner. Was a long day. Called to take DIL and grandson to lunch, she finally made it after 2 PM! My folks bought a new car....I am gonna go drive it in awhile!!! LOL living vicariously!!! Kat

I like it for relaxing, even if DH is not around....being able to lie face down and not wrench my neck.....and just concentrate on breathing deeply---almost instantly relieves my stress headaches. Try looking at the chain drug stores on line---I bet you can find one! Kat