Kat817

Apology accepted....because the song IS now in my head!!!! LOL Congrats on the approval and scheduling!!!! Good Luck as you proceed through to surgery---if you have any questions or concerns, look around very likely they are addressed here on the site, it is a treasure trove of information. If you do not see your question answered.....just ask!!! Welcome to LBT!! Kat

Speck, when talking with my Dr over what we expected to be a slipped band, he said it would be laproscopic surgery to repair a slip. Mine ended up being a twisted intestine, nothing wrong with my band at all---but since we thought it was.....we discussed it!! Kat

Good morning! Nope TracyK---no ad dreams at all, the only place I can find peace!!! Maybe that is why all of us want to sleep and not get up!!!! I too would have killed my DH for even thinking of naming a child without me being consulted no matter what he named them! Let alone giving a child a name that is in itself controversial! It is an old joke....but my friend who got married this last summer, she has 2 kids, a son and a daughter. Her son changed his name from a rather odd name to a more common name of Todd when he was of age....and referred to himself as Todd from the time he was like 8!!! Anyway her DD is Denise....after she had the DD, her brother began referring to her son as Denephew since he hated his name. The kid is 30 now and his uncle still calls him Denephew! Today I am going with my band friend Sofi to do some shopping, and have lunch. We haven't been able to get together in awhile! TracyK while we are meandering around shopping I will check on pants for Miss Macy! I thought I was all set to have my wedding rings sized, but my ones I have now are getting loose. Jenn, hope you feel better soon---and hope you have a good time tonight, and that he is a nice guy. If he isn't don't waste your time with him!!! Good Luck with the book fair Michelle!!! I sure hope that Omar is not messing with Judy, I had not heard anything about it---I hope all is well with them. Laura, good for you not smoking and coming home $100 up!! Maybe Sofi and I should hit the casino here, and see if I can win anything!! I am such a cheapskate, I do not bet big so I do not win big, but I almost always come out of there at least a few dollars ahead, and have lots of fun while I am there. If this place had been here when my Grandma was alive, she would have LOVED it!!! She loved slots! Haydee, Pamela also recommended Appaloosa, and it just opened here, so we have plans to go see it! Was actually one of those movies I said I wanted to see, and he didn't even hesitate saying lets go!!! LOL Some he gets this real pained look as he agrees!!! LOL Well I have been sitting here with my hair in a towel, I better go comb it out before it dries this way......where is Jane when I need her? Not in NM that's for sure!!!! See y'all in awhile! Kat

AAArrrrgggghhhh!!! I cannot turn on my TV.... Open my newspaper.... Answer my phone.... Or get my mail..... Without political ads bombarding me! And now I have to deal with looking at them on LBT.....it REALLY SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!! I had seriously hoped it would be above that...guess not. Here in NM we have already begun early voting, and Rick and I voted last Thursday....wish there was a magic button to turn off all the crap between now and the 4th, since I already made my decision! Sorry, just had to bitch about more of it in my face! Gonna go to bed, where at least the ads have NOT infiltrated my dreams!!! Kat

I agree that counseling sounds like a great plan. I do not remember what type of work you do, but have you considered a change, to something that would provide the excitement, and therefore allow you to actually look forward to a relaxing home life? I have a cousin who is similar in nature, she was always doing wild things, and flitted from one disastrous relationship to another. Then she dated a firefighter, and became interested in his work, she became an EMT, and LOVED it! She settled her personal life down. Coming home after the chaotic high of work, was something she looked forward to. She got hurt at work, trashed a couple of vertebra in her back, and she wigged out a little bit again! But she recognized the problem, and now she is a 911 operator. Still lots of excitement in her life....enough to satisfy the need, and she is in the know of things, she loves it! With therapy it might not be necessary, but it might be something to consider.....decide what kind of excitement you crave....and look into some sort of field it would fit. Kat

I flew into San Diego, and was picked up by one of my surgeons staff, and taken to the hospital for some pre op testing, and then taken to a very nice motel to spend the night. My SIL and I went to be banded together, and my DH went with us as support. My Dr. keeps patients longer than most, but I flew home on the 3rd day. I had 5 hours of traveling by car and 5 hours in the air all total....and survived it without any problems. I had to take a dose of liquid Tylenol during my layover in Phoenix, for a headache. I suggest loose, comfortable clothing, as you do not know until after surgery if you will be one to suffer the discomfort of residual gas pains. You also often do not know where the port will be placed---that will be determined usually during surgery, and which muscle looks best for stitching it in, so with that in mind I would avoid underwire bras. My port incision is not high enough for underwires to be a problem, I DID have high incisions, one almost between my breasts, and an underwire would have hurt....just a bra band was not pleasant. I would wear slip on shoes, so you do not have to bend over to take them off and put them on to go through security, it is quicker as well! Pack VERY lightly! Plan to wear the same outfit going and coming home, anything to lighten the load! And as has been said, use a rolling suitcase or duffel---but keep it light!! As for the flight itself, if you feel you will need a seat belt extender, ask for it as you board the plane. When the attendant is greeting you, just ask her/him for it. They are usually stowed right there, they hand it to you and off you go to your seat. The people already on board are settling in and stowing luggage, not paying you any mind, and those waiting to board are in line behind you, and cannot see anything. If you wait, til you are seated and realize you need it....you will have to ask, and she will go to the front and carry it back in front of everyone waiting to take off!! Your flight out will tell you if you will need the extender coming home. I did not use one going out, but the belt was snug, so I ask for one coming home, because my belly was tender, even though my incisions were much higher than the lap belt affected. The shoulder strap in the car is another story---it come right across 2 of my incisions---and was extremely unpleasant!!! Since I had surgery, my DH has had to have heart valve surgery, and we discovered a way to keep the belt from tightening and rubbing on his chest. They sell large plastic clips, many with magnets for holding things on the fridge----if you pull the shoulder strap out to where it is a little bit loose, and clip it right at the top, it will not tighten down....and yet it is not strong enough to restrict the belt in the event of an accident. During the flight or a long car ride like we had, keep your feet moving! Raise and lower your feet and even your leg, lift your foot off the ground and rotate your ankles----anything to keep the blood moving well! Motion helps prevent blood clots! Also drink lots of Water, sip steady---keeping well hydrated also helps. It is a VERY doable thing, just plan ahead! Do your laundry before you leave, buy Protein drinks---the clear liquid type, by the time you move to full and need Protein shakes you will be fine going to the store again. Just have things ready....freeze a few meals for the family, anything you can do that will make coming home after surgery a bit easier! If you have a problem getting in and out of bed, put a dining room chair next to your bed, you can use it as a leverage to help you lie down and rise up....and the seat can help keep things close at hand....your ever present water to sip, your meds, kleenex, etc. I was up and shopping in a few days, it was an easy surgery for me, but I had really planned and made it easy for myself as well. Good Luck to those of you heading for surgery, and continued comfort and healing for those of you who just had it. I hope you love your bands as much as I love mine!!! Kat

Home from my tests.....and as suspected know nothing. Have the mammogram next Monday-----til then, we play the waiting game. Was WELL hydrated to she could hit my veins easy!!! Learned my lesson!!!! TracyK---will cruise through my usual stores and let you know if I find anything, and I will do my best!!!! Off to get something figured out for dinner......had part of a cheeseburger for lunch, and I am not hungry, but DH will be! BBL~~ Kat

Please go to the top of the page and review the Forum rules. I understand you are new to the forum, but we ask that you debate the issue, not attack one another personally. If you choose to disagree with one another one on one, then take it to PM and keep it out of the thread. Cooperation will keep the thread up and running, and allow the exchange of opinions and ideas. Thanks, Kat

Up, dressed, and ready to drop Kinsey off with my Mom and go be poked, and scanned. Nerves are janglin'!!! Not sure why this day is always so anticlimactic it is ridiculous, I get all nervous, and nothing is ever said to me, they just send me on my way to wait..... TracyK---what size of pants do you need for Macy? Let me know a size and color requirment....and let me look here. Many of the stores, order according to what sells best in the area. So finding clothes to fit Kinsey is almost impossible, we shop online or in Albq. for her. To go into our stores in Farmington, the vast majority of clothing from kids to plus size are petite/short length, and lots of what they refer to in Sears as Husky or whatever. They base what they order on what sells, and with our huge Navajo population who are shorter and heavier through the middle---that is what gets ordered. Worked fine for me when I was bigger, IF I could find something besides short length. The Navajos are built like me only short!!! Very barrel chested, and thick through the middle, but no butt and legs are skinny---just their skinny legs are short, and mine are long! So I may have a totally different selection of clothing here than you do there. Give me an idea what to look for. Well I am off! Wish me luck.........gonna indulge in a cheeseburger when I am done! I always have to eat high fat when I am done to help clear my system of all the radioactive isotopes they inject me with!!! Rick and I decided our favorite burger joint was on the menu. Ooops he just pulled up! See ya@ Kat

My SIL and I had the same Dr., and surgery on the same day---but we had different instructions for pre op, and some moderations to the post op diet were made as well. The differences had to do with our BMI's going into the surgery, our liver enzyme levels going into the surgery, and things like that. The post op changes were made due to the differences he found in our livers and the amount of fat on our livers and stomachs during the banding itself. I don't think it is unusual for a Dr. to alter instructions per patient. All in all it was really nice to have someone to compare notes with, and to discuss what we were told, it is hard to remember everything!!! Kat

I was not given a strict amount of protein to get in during different phases. I was not instructed to even up my amount during pre op! But he did advise increasing it during the weeks following surgery, as it would help with healing. He suggested some clear liquid proteins----and I admit they DID help. Not sure if they helped in healing, but when I began actually drinking them, the fatigue eased. I found several clear liquid protein options at GNC---and whether it matters or not, I don't know, but the girl at the store suggested drinking half in the morning and half in the afternoon so as to get more from it.....but like I say I have no idea if that matters a bit!!! I did it, but as we all know it feels like all you do is drink for awhile following surgery....sip, sip, sip all day long!!! Since the time I was banded, they have come out with the protein shots----big hits of protein in small amounts of liquid. I have used them following my thyroidectomy---and while not something I would drink just for the fun of it, very doable, and quick to down! Then once I was moved on to fuller liquids and I could do protein shakes, my options opened up a lot more. Then when I went to a full diet, no one has ever said anything to me about needing more protein than anyone else. The focus of the diet my Dr. recommends is lean protein, and vegetables, followed by fruit, and then the lowly white carb as a last resort!!! I try to base my eating on health, and a balanced diet, as opposed to eliminating any one food category---or over emphasizing any other----all things in moderation. I know myself well enough to realize the second I think I cannot have something, that is ALL I want! And I will end up binging on it! It took me a bit longer to get to goal, but I did not want to give up my todays for tomorrow. I did not want to feel deprived every day just to get to goal quicker. So I took it slower, ate cake with my family on birthdays, and had some dressing at Thanksgiving.....but none of it in the amounts I did pre band! And it all eventually come off! All that said....this was how my Dr. deals with the protein.....but since you will be reporting and seeing YOUR Dr.......I'd listen to him/her!!! LOL Kat

I have always lost a fair amount of hair following surgery. I tried the zinc time before last (thyroidectomy) with no difference---still lost hair. Increase in Protein did nothing either! However with banding, same as with the extended time I was on Atkins, I lost a SIGNIFICANT amount of hair----a scary amount! I feel like this has to do with a combination, of the usual shock of surgery plus the diet changes. Where the surgical loss begins within a few weeks after surgery, the banding loss did not begin until about 5 months out, and it was much heavier loss. It lasted for about 6 months, and quit! While I was losing long hairs that had been with me awhile, you could also see little ones beginning my stylist said, but I ended up with seriously thin hair! In the right light, you could see the exact shape of my scalp/head! When it really began growing back, it was just as heavy as before and no change in hair texture etc. Back when I lost all my hair to chemo, the texture and even color changed when it grew back, this did not do that at all, there was no change. I took my Vitamins, kept my diet in a healthy range, had blood drawn twice and everything looked good, the ONLY thing that ever showed up, was the first blood draw, my potassium was low, so I had to drink these small doses of some really nasty potassium meds! My Dr. said if someone could come up with a definitive reason for the fact that some patients lose lots of hair while others never lose any more than usual, they would ALL be glad, because none of them knows what to tell their patients. The only reassurance I can give, is it does stop falling out eventually, and it does grow back without any change.....just hang in there. In the worst case scenario....you would be a thin person in a wig.....you cannot have a head full of natural hair and just slip on a thin suit!!! Too bad tho!! Kat

I'm off to our last ball game before tournaments. Taking cupcakes, hoping to avoid eating one!! Today is my friend Leslie's birthday, and her BF is on the team, she has been at every game, and is all alone here, they moved out a few months ago from Ohio---so she has no family here or anything, and the BF had to work today, and then has this game tonight. So Kinsey and I took her to lunch and I am taking cupcakes for everyone for her birthday tonight. Maybe I can avoid them! I figured cupcakes would be easy to get rid of at a ball park---so no leftovers! LOL Will see all of you later tonight or in the morning. Kat

That company is charging at my account again! The bank called to tell me....and said they are leaving it open ended to them, that the card is non working otherwise, in an attempt to locate who and where the charges are actually coming from. I am soooooo freaked out by it! I don't like it at all! I just ordered new checks for that account, they have not even come in yet, but I think tomorrow when the walk in part of the bank is open, I am closing it all together. But I can't until the things we have out, clear.......such a friggin' mess!!!!!!! This was 10 new charges totalling like 263.57 or something like that, I moved the paper with it wrote down..... MasterCard said it will be at least 10 business days to decide whether to credit my account for the previous charges or not. These show up on my summary, but do not show up as debited out......with the weekend and the holiday---my 10 days will not be up til this week. I am hoping like heck they give my money back without a big hassle. Anyway I thought part of it was over and it isn't!!! Kat

Nobody has responded to his drug addiction. And whether or not you like it being illegal, pot is still illegal. So it seems to me that there is more than one issue going on. As for the comment itself, in all honesty it likely could have been TRUE for many, many of our spouses, or partners. He said he never would have gone out with you if you looked like you do now.....is pretty much what I remember from reading the thread through (I should go back and quote it, but am lazy!!!). Well, I know perfectly well, if I had been at 289 pounds, my husband now would not have ask me out. When I was 120 pounds he DID ask me out! We both had been married and had children, and were very wary of marriage! But.... We fell in love, and had a great life, and then work went to crap, and he ended up moving away for school, and I stayed here to raise my child. Through the years I packed on the weight. When he come back into my life I was 260 pounds. But he already knew me, knew my heart, and we loved one another. So we married, and I gained more weight! Then come the band, and I have lost to my goal, and he is thrilled and supportive. And willing to admit, he loved me, heavy or thinner, BUT he loves my being healthy again, and being able to ride motorcycles with him, and horses, and play softball. So.......if he had not known me before.....would he have been attracted enough to ask me out at 260 pounds? Nope not a question in my mind! Would he have ever said those words to me without us talking about it? Nope.....but here comes the kicker.....he would not have, unless he too had been under the influence of a substance that reduced his capacities. The pot makes your DH's mental state different than it is when he is sober. My brother smoked pot for years, and I could ALWAYS tell, because no matter what you said he argued! And he didn't care if his arguement was rude! I would call him on it, and he would say things like he chose to smoke not eat! Same type of crude and rude crap your DH is saying! I agree that in order to move forward you both will require counseling. But to attempt it for your acceptance of his treatment, or expecting him to change without his giving up his drug of choice (pot) when you give up overdoing your drug of choice (food) is going to be a total waste of time, in my opinion. Maybe some of his new anger is anger directed at himself---and of course turned on you---for his inability to give it up as easily as he always thought he could....? Kat

Good morning all~ TracyK---across the top of your hair it looks like a lighter streak---I think that is perfect---a few more highlights, and I think it would look great! It makes your skin look flawless!!! My oldest DD and my best friend have both recently went darker! Not so fond of it on my DD, but on Becky it looks amazing! TracyKS---you look wonderful in your reunion pic! Rick and I had our 30th this summer! We had a blast. My favorite compliment of the night was from a guy I had not seen since a few years out of school, and he told me I had not changed a bit since then! He missed the giant weight mountain I climbed up and down!!! Now I am still 40 pounds heavier than I was in high school, but I looked anorexic then without a doubt! Sad thing is, I tried as hard then to gain as I do now to lose! Did anyone really surprise you? I was not as surprised by the women who gained weight as I was the men....not sure why I but I was! And this one kid who had a huge--like easily 8" long afro was bald as a cue ball on top!!! Other surprises were not good ones, I had heard of classmates dying, had even went to services, but had no idea another 2 were now confined to wheelchairs. Some looked way old, and others had hardly changed at all. Was a lot of fun overall! And I am SURE you will agree---much easier to attend without the additional 100 pounds. Jane, be careful of the Zyrtec and work, it makes me soooooo sleepy! It lasts for 24 hours, so I take it at bedtime, and am still groggy from it the next morning! I try to remember it at dinner, then I do pretty well---but my memory is shot! Terry--when I looked at your necklace you made Judy, I thought the leaf must have been like a bead, an embelishment you bought. I had no idea you cut it out, and made it! OMG! It is beautiful! In Colorado where we went yesterday the shops sell a lot of dipped aspen leaves. When an aspen leaf breaks down, the leaf part crumbles away but often leaves the lacy skeleton of the leaf, and they have them dipped in everything from a gold finish looking stuff to REAL gold! They are so pretty. I am used to seeing them, so I thought that was a similar thing. I am so impressed you made that! Please keep showing us what you make! It got down to the low 20's here last night, and the snow line is right at us....hope it stays north! Our trees have not dropped leaves yet, and when that has occasionally happened, we have lots of broken tree limbs and a mess! It is hard to rake leaves in the snow!!! Needless to say we have a fire going, Kinsey lays there and tells me, I love to look at the fire, it is pretty. So I told her it is only pretty INSIDE the fireplace! Guess I better get the little girlie some breakfast, she just got up again! Kat

Had a great day------5 couples we all rode 200+ miles through the cold in the mountains, and looked at all the colors! Stopped at a place called Blondies Pub & Grub---had a really great hamburger---shared it with Rick....wanted to eat lots more and didn't...yay!!! Come home Rick built me a fire, and we vegged, now I am watching the endings of my programs. Pamela, glad you are home Hon, sorry it was such a difficult weekend, but glad you were open and honest and YOU! Big hugs and lots of prayers whether he believes in them or not, for both you and Dad!! Terry, it really is a great picture!!! Your DH is not how I pictured him at all!!! Not sure exactly what I did picture, but he wasn't it! One of the couples we rode with, I cannot stand the wife.....she also showed up at our pick up ball game yesterday and reminded me why I cannot stand her!!! Then I had to deal with her and 2 of her brats at dinner, then again with her today....I just hung with my usual friends, and let her argue with the boys---she prefers that anyway, she insists on telling us wussy women all the time.....grrrrrr. Rick thanked me on the way home for being nothing like her!! LOL Colors were beautiful!!! Aspens were bright gold, and oak was bright red, and russet....then all the pines and evergreens, the mountains looked like a collage of color. We found this great spot, lots of leaves on the ground, and lots of scrub oak (small wild oak), and big white barked aspen trees....the plan was to take pictures...since our resident photographer was in attendance (Gary). BUT Becky had a bottle of water in the trunk of the bike, and it leaked and soaked the camera. He was soooooo mad! But he put it in there! We thought it would be best to let it dry before trying it again. So no cool pics, even though we hunted for an hour for the perfect spot!!! Tracy---don't panic, the water weight will go down! I have been up by several pounds the days after the games, I finally figured out it was all the sunflower seeds with all the salt!!! Hang in there you are doing the right things. Well I am off to watch the end of Brothers & Sisters then to bed with me, Kinsey comes early.....like that matters, we go back to bed!!! LOL!!! Talk to all of you tomorrow! Hope your headache is better Jane! Kat

Hey girls, just stopping in to say good night. We had our game, and it was fun, I did nothing really, tossed the ball some, did not run or anything. We played for a couple of hours, then went to Chilis. With a bunch of people I like, and a couple I don't!!! Actually the husband that works for Rick I like ok, his wife is overbearing and rude, and they have rude children. For the first time ever, when we paid, I ask the server who was taking all the other credit/debit cards--where I could go to pay in person, she said oh no she would do it. I explained to her, that I had had a problem with my debit card info being exploited, and I wanted to pay my bill, but for my own safety this card was not leaving my sight....she got kind of flustered, and said she would ask, or I could go over to the other server who had been there longer and find out.....so I walked to the kiosk, with Rick's secretary on my heels, she has heard all about our fiasco, and they processed it with us standing there. Will do it everytime now! Also when I get my new card, those security #'s are getting blacked out! All in all a pretty good day. Food was so so.....ate way too many chips and salsa!!! And a handful (make that FULL) of junior mints-------all Leslies fault at the game, she twisted my arm and forced them in my hand!!! LOL Will check in tomorrow--we are hoping the weather improves....we played ball in horrid winds--------quit when the gusts were tossing the ball around! Ended up hearing on the news we had 60 mph gusts!!! No wonder!! Anyway we hope to go for a ride in the mountains tomorrow. Of course the couple that I don't like the wife half of invited themselves along on that as well as they did to Chilis! At least on the motorcycle I can't hear her whine and complain and argue with every word out of peoples mouths!!! LOL Ok, I really am out of here!!! Night Night all!!! Kat

Good morning all! Safe travels to all my Violet sisters!!! You will be missed! I have my tests on Tuesday Jane. Except the stupid place is revamping equipment, so they will be unable to do my mammogram until the 20th. Oh well...... We went to dinner with Becky & Gary last night, and nothing wanted to settle on my stomach. I was a bit concerned, but I just quit eating, and I never felt any nausea, just felt like I was overeating. I am thinking it is all the mucous (mucus???sp???), my head is draining like a faucet has been left on! I come home and we went to bed to watch TV, and I avoided taking any more meds in case that was the issue--------and I am fine, eating and drinking without issue. Rick is moving his air compressor to the shop this morning, and I am being totally lazy, just listening to CMT, and checking on all of you! After he is done, we are supposed to meet up with some friends for lunch, then we have a pick up softball game at 3. I keep telling Rick we need to call and cancel lunch, because he does not want to eat heavy then play, and change it to going to dinner AFTER. That way if they want to they could even have a beer with dinner. So far he responds with..."Whatever, call Leslie". So I guess I WILL!!! LOL Terry, I was telling Rick about Hero's romp in the dog park, and he said the Golden he rescued in Denver all those years ago was like that, she went non stop, but was without a doubt he said the smartest, best behaved dog he has ever had. He has mentioned her several times since.....he might be swayed!!! LOL TracyK--hope you feel back to you soon....TOM when it is so irregular like that can be really difficult, and the amount of hormone released into the body seriously affects most aspects of your life my gyn said. I had seen the same gyn for years, and she was ok, not particularly communicative tho, I see now! When I had the serious hemorhage this new Dr. from back east was on call, so he is who they called in. I had purposely chosen a woman, so was not thrilled with the change. OMG I see that hemorhage as a blessing now! This guy is so nice, and he gives me SOOOOO much information, and validates my feelings without me ever having to say a word! It is like he was telling me about the amount of hormone entering all at once when you only have 3 periods a year, is devastating....and went on to tell me about how these hormones affect the body and mind. I was so relieved to know I wasn't crazy!! Where my old gyn was unwilling to even discuss a hysterectomy with me, he admitted I should have had it done before things turned cancerous. I am so glad I ended up changed to him!!! I cannot imagine the course of the chemo and all with her being so detached and unfeeling through it all, he was so kind and upbeat. It is cold here this morning! Windy too, I see the balloon launch this morning did not go well. The balloon that crashed while we were there, well a few did, but the one that killed the man, hit wires. The balloon park is huge, like 78 acres----bigger than 50 football fields. But once you lift off, there are wires, it is near the interstate there is no way not to have wires, it requires electricity.....and it just severed the gondola from the envelope of the balloon, and they fell. We were not close to where they were when it happen, we did not see it. Which I am glad. It was a special shapes balloon.....it was assorted Triangles, let me think and I might pull the name of it out of my hat.....It is there on the tip of my tongue. It is like 3 triangles with another on top....will let you know if I remember the name! We watched hundreds of balloons go, and we watched them fill, and talked with people from all over the place....several states, and a man from Germany. Then we left when they had pretty much all lifted off, we went and did some shopping, and then we took a nap!!! Then we went back for the glow-deo. They tether the balloons to the ground---or just a few feet off the ground....and hit the burners---which makes the envelopes glow and look like giant stained glass globes! I loved it! Then they had a fireworks show, and we watched it, and then come home. Was a nice get away, even if I did not feel 100%. Well, Rick is running into problems so I am gonna go listen, even though I know I cannot help. BBL~~ Kat

TracyK---can I have a sticker? Rick went riding without me....DD has the day off, so Kinsey is at home, I don't even have the TV on, it is just..... q u i e t. AND I am all alone in the quiet! I think I deserve a sticker!!! LOL Seriously, I am so glad she is enjoying the challenge of earning the stickers, and that it is something that will help her overcome her want for the teachers company. I would never have thought of it! I seriously thought I (as I am sure you did) was doing the right thing, helping her, spending quality time with her, helping her learn.....there is always gonna be a pitfall.....sorry you had to find this one tho!!! Kat

Alex, Hope your birthday is a really special day for you!!! Let me go along with Jacks 21 WOOT salute....saluting your genius in creating, and maintaining such a great site for all of us--where would we be without you???? Have a wonderful day!!! Kat

Hey Girls~ Made it home late last night/early this morning, it was about midnight. We hung out til the last balloon quit glowing, and the fireworks were over, took the bus back to our car and home we came! I thought the trip was going to be ruined. I come down with a head cold or sinus infection or something, but the meds I took kept me comfortable, then come home and had some nightime sinus stuff, so was ok. We come home late, and left out early, and went and got a load of wood. One more load, and we will be set for winter. Rick is off gettting another load with my Dad right now. Then a couple for his folks and I think we have everyone topped off. I mentioned to his siblings again about the wood, I guess they would prefer them to freeze....something I intend on mentioning to them frequently as the weather gets colder. Our son has done the bulk of their wood hauling and work this year....gotta love him. Judy, what a wonderful ultrasound picture, some of them are so difficult to get the baby to cooperate into a nice position, your baby looks like they posed!!! Love Ethans hat, and little red cheeks. Kinsey has a menagerie of dogs snuggled up with her at home, she sleeps with her chihuahua. When Manda takes her to bed at night, Dozer (the 3 lb. dog) gets put up with her, they read a story, and when Kinsey gets ready to go to sleep, he climbs under the covers and waits, and when she gets positioned, he snuggles in. Manda said when she goes in and sits on the bed in the morning to get Kinsey ready to come here, she has to be careful not to sit on the dog, and the dog groans and moans, and HATES being taken out of the covers to go outside! Spoiled little beast, but Kinsey ADORES him! Laura, great job on the no smoking, I knew you could do it! What better reason! Yes you may gain more than the Dr. likes, but she is going to be glad you quit smoking, and frankly if she is snotty about it, and not supportive of you quitting, it is not too late to find another Dr.!! That is a HUGE thing to do---giving up the cigarettes without a replacement nicotine source, or Chantix or anything, I would hope she sees it for the benefit it is. As your cravings reduce, your weight will stabalize for the pregnancy. Just keep your kidney situation in mind, maybe that will help. TracyK----thanks so much for sharing the info about having to help Macy learn to work alone. I too usually color right along with Kinsey, and help her do things--I am learning from you, and plan to back off some and let her learn to do things alone too. I know it does not help Macy, but thank you for sharing!!!!!! Well, everytime I think of something I want to say to one of y'all, something interupts, I have been an hour trying to get this posted. Going to just post it, and will try again later!!! Hugs! Kat

I guess I thought my pie hole report was not so great, because most of the day was processed food! Plus I worked so hard eating those danged pinon nuts it felt like I ate all day long!!! Hard little suckers to crack and shell!!! Today, thus far I have had B-slice of peanut butter wheat toast for breakfast L--Junior bacon cheeseburger from Wendy's with half the bun tossed--ate all but about 3 bites. S--3 cheese curds D--is going to be salad....we are going to my MIL, and she is making dumplings, and salad and cobbler-probably peach. I am going to eat salad so I can have some cobbler, much rather it than the dumplings!!! Telling all of you keeps me in watch though, or I would have ate more cheese curds when Manda offered them!!! She said her Dad has been in bed sick since last Friday, with terrible stomach cramps, and nausea, he refuses to see a Dr. I am not surprised by it, but I hate that it is upsetting to his kids. Would not surprise me for it to be his liver failing, he has drank for years. Manda was headed to a meeting at her sisters school with an assistant dean of students. Her sister transferred over last week, come to find out Manda paid for her lab fees etc. because her Dad couldn't afford it (nother reason to dislike him!), so she was told to come back into the office in a couple of days and they would have her locker assignment. When she showed up here last night, she was lugging a full backpack, and carrying 2 books. They told her they did not have any lockers available, there are several awaiting repair. So Courtney and I weighed the backpack and her books. When I got on the scale without them and then with them, there was a 38 pound difference! Seriously! So Manda called to make an appointment to discuss this with them, if they had no room for extra students, why did they allow her to transfer in, and what are they going to do about her having to lug that weight around all day. Manda said she is not going to be confrontational, but instead ask which office would be the best for her to stow her things in in lieu of a locker until they get one fixed for her....just not allow them to ignore her or expect her to carry it everywhere. I am waiting to hear what happen! Well, I need to put away some of the things I bought in town. Was not crowded, and I am sure glad I got it done and over with!! If I hadn't done it before we leave, I would have had to when we got home Friday, or done it on the weekend, and I HATE going on weekends!!! We will be leaving after seeing my brother in law at my inlaws tonight. So will catch up when I get back! Hugs!! Kat

Well they say 1-2 pounds a week, so when you average 2 every 2 weeks you fall into that range....but since you are just getting restriction, my guess is it will pick up speed. Keep working with it, and beware of fills from this point, if you are feeling restriction, even the smallest amounts make a huge difference sometimes, so you WILL make it!! We all get down sometimes, and weight is something we can all relate to causing it. Sounds like you have a full schedule with school and all now, and with finances being tight, it is pretty easy to let it be overwhelming. I Hope you begin seeing the results you want so badly, it is hard when you see others doing it, and you are not. I lost slower than many, but it remained steady.....just slow. Now 2 1/2 years later, it has brought me to goal, but there were times, I was SOOOO frustrated wanting it gone yesterday! In the end, it is gone, and I am happy about it....and the time seems much shorter AFTER it is done!!! Hang in there!!! Kat

My endoscopy was done by my surgeon, so he was able to look at it, and see what he was wondering about right there, so I did not have to wait for results. I would think it would be transcribed following the procedure....but have no experience with another prescribing Dr. It seems like the whole medical profession is set up on a "hurry up and wait" schedule. Makes me crazy!!! We are headed your direction to do the balloon fiesta tomorrow. Hope the weather holds!!! Welcome to LBT Pat, nice to have you here! Kat