Kat817

I am sorry I cannot give you that reassurance, I have the old band....it holds a max of 4cc.'s I just have a question for you. When your Dr. does your fills, does he/she withdraw the current fill level, then refill, or simply add additional saline? My surgeon, withdraws my fill to assure us he is "in" and also to make sure I am not losing any significant amounts. Some people do have slow leaks in the tubing or the band. They use a product called omnipaque for this--it is like the slime they put in bike tires--it is a thicker Fluid that does not flow out if there is a small leak. Perhaps you could ask about it? You can do a search here on the site for omnipaque, and see if any of those mentioning it were having the same issues you are. Sorry, I was not the voice of reassurance you needed---just wanted to toss an idea out. Good Luck!!! Kat

LOL! sometimes that is the only way---keep it away! When I was banded, someone mentioned something they ate that was absolutely horrible, no nutritional value at all!! But once they planted the taste thought in my brain----I was haunted by it!! Notice I am being kind and not passing on the evil thought!!! This too shall pass, and soon you will be back to food---and have the band, a healthy band there to help. 100+ pounds later.....it was worth the few weeks of denying myself without a doubt!!! It will be for y'all too! Kat

No matter how well you chew food, if it is solid and not on your Dr.'s approved list, you risk complications from having it. I wish it was not true, and that we could eat when we want but while our bands are seating themselves and our insides are healing, we simply have to deal with the hunger and cravings. When the band was placed around your upper stomach, the lower pouch of stomach was brought up and stitched in a few places to hold the band secure while scar tissue forms to hold it securely in place. When you eat even teeny tiny particles of food, the stomach senses them and begins digesting. It kneads and squeezes to break the food down, to mix it with the digesting acids, and to push it through to the intestines. Whenever the stomach churns like that it disrupts the formation of the scar tissue. So rather than getting a snug secure fit of the band it can create a pocket for the band to sit in as opposed to being tight. You might not feel a problem today, but it possibly sets you up for risk of slippage down the road. If the food is on your ok list from your Dr. then I aplogize and will get off my soap box---but if you are still supposed to be on liquids, or full liquids--please adhere to the Dr.'s orders---there really is a reason for them. The best thing I found when serious cravings hit----was just to get the hell outta Dodge! I had to go take a walk or something to get past it! I still sometimes have to make myself physically get away from the kitchen when cravings hit and I KNOW I am not really hungry!!! The brain is a powerful thing to fight!! Kat

I am quite a bit older than all of you....and been with my DH through every size imaginable....from 135 pounds to almost 300. I just had a Tummy Tuck the end of May, so am just relearning life without the huge hang of skin. They also did the mons lift during the TT. My DH is absolutely floored by how limber I remain. He is thrilled by it---and says so frequently!!! Heck I am amazed the things I can do without that nasty belly!!! The thing I alone truly appreciate NSV wise, is the fact I can sit in a chair---a standard dining room chair, and have room to pull my foot up beside me, and do my own special touches to my pedicure!!! I used to spill over the chair, and had a belly in the way of pulling my foot up. LOVE IT!!! scale Victories, Non Scale Victories---love them all, I feel like I have my life back. It made a difference in my physical shape for sure, but the change in my mental shape is just as dramatic! Kat

Lack of hunger post op is very common. In some cases your actual physical hunger may not come back, however that is unfortunatley rare! Stick to drinking, try to get some clear Protein drinks in, it will help with the healing, and the fatigue you will experience from lack of feeding your body. GNC sells protein shots, a test tube type of thing with a heavy protein count (like 40grams), they also sell Zero Carb Isopure which is a clear kool aid kind of drink with 40 grams a bottle. None of it is something I would choose to drink today if given options....but when I was post op they made a world of difference in how I felt and my energy level! Hang in there, sounds like you are .....dare I say it.....normal!!! Kat

This is true. But for most of us, we could follow a diet for awhile, and be successful, we just simply could not stay on it for life, and when we went off, the weight come back plus more. That is where life with the band changes things. Yes you do have strict post op guidelines---for a reason! When the band is placed around the upper portion of the stomach, the lower pouch of stomach is pulled up and stitched over the band in a few places, in order to hold the band in proper position. Then scar tissue begins forming---that will be the permanent assurance of proper band placement. When we eat food, any solids at all, the stomach has to digest them, to push them on through to the intestines. When digesting food the stomach kneads, and squeezes to break down the food. If you allow it to digest foods while the scar tissue is trying to form, it breaks down the process, and you take a chance of it not "seating" properly. You might not know it now--but if you create a pocket of space for it, as opposed to a snug fit, you leave yourself open for a slip later on down the road. So you girls concerned with drinking----drink liquids, try not to overfill your stomach all at once---think of the weight involved, just spread it out some....and don't cheat and eat!! LOL So yes you must diet for the few weeks following banding. If you seriously cannot imagine dieting for another few weeks, then banding is likely not for you. If you think you could manage another round of dieting, then it might be. The difference is, about the time you are ready to throw in the towel--as we have in the past, it is time to get a fill. And the band is allowed to step in and help. Restriction does not always come fast, but when you reach a level of restriction that helps you manage portion control, and restriction that helps control the hunger itself--life is a whole new ballgame!!! It is not dieting like we ever did before! Personally, I do not "diet" I eat pretty much any kind of food. I do try to keep healthy food on the forefront, simply because I realize I am eating less, so need to pack more nutrition into a smaller amount--in order to maintain my own health. But I have Cookies, or ice cream, I do not deny myself. I no longer like the way many things taste. I used to eat those Little Debbie things on occasion---YUCK!!! Once you learn to chew well as a bandster must do, they taste TERRIBLE!!! It has taken me 2 years to get here, but it took me a lot longer than 2 years to blow up to the size I was. It has been an awesome learning experience. I now know what a normal portion of food is. I understand the need to eat certain foods over others, and how they affect my body right now, and how they affect my hunger in 2 hours. I was an important part of this success. The band did not do it alone. On the other hand, I did not do it alone either, there is no way I could have accomplished this without the band. So yes, it is something you must work with. But it is not a lifetime of supplements, and nothing was removed from my body. Together the band and I have control! Only you know if you are willing to try again with a diet for awhile, or if you can commit to working with your Dr. and with the band to make it work. Good Luck! Kat

Haydee the surgeon I originally chose who is in Colorado went over all of this in the band seminar. He also told us about the nerves -2 of them in the upper part of the stomach that trigger the grehlin release, which is why he personally thinks placement of the band is so important. Not just that it is there, but that it is placed in a way to put pressure on those nerves. When things changed insurance wise, and I spoke with him about Mexican surgeons that is one of the reasons he recommended Dr. Aceves, he said they are in the same school of thought regarding placement of the band. In the end I researched Dr. A, and found good things, spoke with former patients, and amazingly DID find a good number of them who said their hunger had been eliminated or at least reduced by far. And it happened the same with me---even with no fill, I am not hungry. My stomach does not growl, even if I forget to eat all day----I eat out of boredom and habit! I can tell if my stomach is empty, it feels like it is just that---empty---but I am not hungry. They both harp on lean Proteins as well!!! And if it swims or flies even better they say! I thought it might be difficult working with 2 Dr.'s, and one of them anyway having the classic smug surgeon attitude (US)-but they are both always on the same page, and it works!! My problem is snacking--I want to snack, and Protein is hard to snack on!!! I keep Jerky, and pepperoni crisps and cheese crisps when I take time to make them------but I cave in and eat other crap when I hit the snack urge! Anyone with any suggestions??? TracyKS----glad your Mom is out of surgery. I know it would be difficult to be faced with disfigurement, but in the end they are just boobs----not worth losing your life over. They explained the importance of the painful sort of mammogram they did on me following my cancer Dx, telling me, that breast cancer and other female organ cancers often run together, in a circular pattern. And being large breasted, the standard mammogram could not pick up the denser breast tissues, and further back under the arm area----remember I was about 250 pounds at the time. Rick and I discussed it of course---and our decision was cut 'em off! And Rick is a true breast man truth be told!! But I was lucky and they come back clear, but I would not have hesitated, I would have went with total mastectomy, and worried about possible reconstruction at a later date. Would I have been devastated and horrified at what had been done to me? Damn straight! But.....I would live to whine about it was our thought. And your Mom is alive to cry about the discrepency in size....she will adjust to that. I hope the masses they remove are benign, and all she has to worry about is padding one side of a bra. My prayers will continue for all of you.....it is a scary ordeal. TracyK, how much change can your DH have in income before the CS is adjusted? Does she get copies of his W2? If so, you might consider seriously packing his 401K if possible, it will keep the income change from showing, and will still be $$$$ saved for you guys, that you can pull without penalty in the future to buy a home or for schooling. We put a full 25% in Ricks 401, just to keep it off of the W2. I mean he pays $757.02--for a child proven through DNA not to be his, that he never gets to see. Gotta love Colorado Courts---NOT! We do not want to pay more---we already pay the support and all medical insurance and not covered things. 22 more payments by the way and it is over! LOL Suzanne---since we all guessed wrong---what IS the status on the pool? The one was the wrong size, are they going to work around and use it, or do you have to wait for the other to arrive? I am off on a lone shopping trip today---I want to go and go quickly! I do not want to look at everything in the store, so Mom cannot go! I do not want to buckle and unbuckle a carseat all day so Kinsey is staying with her Daddy! I want to walk into a store, look at the shoes---specifically for some sort of brown flip flop style sandals---and leave if they do not have them---and hit the next store! LOL Wish me luck! I want them for Saturday! I know I should not have waited til the last minute..... Better get it in gear! Hugs~~ Kat

Will do my best Jane----as you know I cannot size pics!!! LOL! I will do the TT and email them when I do, not sure I want bare pics on here----like I say I have snoopy family who follow me around here---guess they have no life of their own! I took a few of the burned area yesterday. As for the firemen, I was so busy I never even noticed them, until I spoke to one, and it was a girl----and a young girl at that!! Like I say this is a totally volunteer unit, and with all that gear on they all looked alike, and they had masks on, the smoke was horrendous, burning leaves and cotton made thick black smoke. Firefighters do have an appeal......!!!! We'll just say they are HOT!! LOL! I too was hoping to hear from TracyKS. I was really glad to see you check in Terry, was beginning to worry about you too!!! Abbey continues to have problems and her OB is out of town, and she is not getting cooperation from his partner. I wanted her to see my Dr. but she is determined to see her own. I left dinner and took off before I said things I would be sorry for. I just feel there is a time to be stubborn and this is not it, there is a difference between loyalty and stupidity! And why does she feel the need to see this Dr.? Her mother in law loves him, and does not want her seeing another Dr. Her lame ass MIL told my insecure SIL that she has heard of many OB/GYN's discussing womens anatomies in improper places. She is so full of crap! So of course the Mama's boy he is....he too insists she only see her Dr. Oh well, as you can tell I am royally pissed over it....but what can you do, the law says they are adults----even if they don't act it! Yeah, it was a good thing I left when I did! Well I am off to play a game or 2 to make myself sleepy!!! Talk to y'all in the morning! Kat

Ang, after looking at the site, if you determine you do need a seatbelt extension---ask for it as you board the plane. When you are boarding and they stand there telling you welcome aboard and all, if you ask for it then, they simply reach behind them and hand it to you. Those already on board are busy trying to get seated, and others are standing and stowing luggage etc. And those waiting to board are in line behind you and cannot see what is going on. Not all eyes are on you. Then you simply palm the extension and go to your seat, and buckle up, no one the wiser. If on the other hand you wait til you are seated and decide you need one----when you catch her attention she walks all the way to the front gets it in plane sight of everyone waiting to take off and walks back and hands it to you in plain sight. Much better to do it on the sly. Also I have heard that you can get them cheap on ebay!!! I didn't have to use one on my trip to get banded, but the belt was TIGHT!! So I knew coming home with fresh incisions I would need one. I received this advice right here on LBT 2 1/2 years ago, and it worked!! She handed it to me, no problems and no one, even my SIL flying with me, did not know!!! She was going to do without she thought, and ended up asking for one, and the stewardess forgot who ask for it, and held it up with a questioning look until my SIL held up her hand to get it--I would have been mortified!! I seriously thought about "taking" it with me for the next time, then decided no more often than I fly---I wouldn't need it next time! Didn't fly again til this summer, and I did not need it!! LOL Good Luck--I remember the concerns well. Kat

I notice this, and also the same sort of thing in reverse. Today for instance, I attended my Uncles funeral, and there was a family dinner following it. Well the women in the church know I am banded, as do most of my relatives. I get the comments from those still fairly overweight, that they could not eat such a small amount of food! They don't get that with the band you COULD! But I make a point to really fill my plate, and show them I DO EAT! Yes, I eat food, normal food just like you I want to tell them, and yes I have lost over a hundred pounds just like you could too. I have surprised many people!!! I have an Aunt, sad to say we cannot call her a beloved Aunt! She is basically the same size I was when I was banded----and she is ALWAYS asking me "can you eat that?" I have begun saying off the wall things to her, like I don't 'get' why she is asking! I will ask her back something like "why is it bad or something?" She always whispers "no I meant your surgery" I tell her I have lost XXX amount of pounds eating it, so I guess so! Normally I am not a rub your nose in it kind of person, she just brings it out in me!!! LOL I agree, filling your plate keeps them happy, then they are usually so busy devouring theirs you can eat what you need and toss the rest. Waste yes, but better than on your Waist! Kat

Hi Stacey, welcome! Suzanne, I believe it to be the same thing, but Omnipaque is a thick fluid they use in place of saline for some people believed to have small leaks in the tubing, or band. It is kind of like slime for bike tires. All done with the funeral. I need to go get a fill. I ate quality food, meats, and some veggies---but I ate WAY too much!!!! Drank lots of water though!!! Glad that is behind me, it has been a long, sad, yet full of stories and laughs kind of day. I am off to Farmington, to see how Abbey is doing, and to take them some dinner. Kat

I'd guess to say we had what we thought to be about 3 months expenses in savings, and we had some CD's--and we stretched that waaaaay longer than 3 months, but in no way were we prepared for almost a year! And in our case his short term disability was all we qualified for so it paid for 26 weeks---6 months. If not for it, we would have been totally hosed! But even with that, it was base pay, and we had stupidly become accustomed to overtime pay, so it was a VERY rude awakening! Many people like Susan are embarrassed finding themselves in these situations they would have never expected, and the depression, makes it to where you don't care if the lawn is kept up, you are going to lose the house anyway....it is a horrible place to be in I am sure. I have no doubt many people made bad decisions, and choices. But most of us here did that with the amount of food we put in our mouths each day too-----I hated being put down because of that bad choice too! Understanding goes a loooong way. And yes it goes both ways, I do understand your fears and frustrations....I just hope they don't eat away at you until you can no longer enjoy what you DO have. Kat

Poor Suzie, it was unanimous--I was guessing and hoping pool too!!! Someday you will have it, and you are far more patient and forgiving than I!!!! I am dressed and ready physically to go, my Uncles services are in an hour.....emotionally I am putting off going to the church, which is just down the road. I am waiting for my parents to show up, I am driving. My friend who was getting married Friday night had to change it to Saturday, her sons best friend was killed in a boating accident, and his funeral is Friday, so she is waiting til Sat. so her son can be here. So Friday night Rick and I will go to the ice breaker for our class reunion. Then Saturday morning is his friends memorial service, the reunion picnic at 1 and then the wedding in Colorado that evening. Busy day it looks like. Well I am too keyed up to sit....guess I will go unload the dishwasher or something productive! LOL---It is an improvement, used to be I would be prowling for something to eat! I put a cooler with iced down water in the car, it is 103 out right now, and we head to open skies at the cemetary right after services, I worry about my folks so I am taking them cold water. Me too of course!! Be back later.....TracyKS let us know as soon as you know anything hon! Kat

Susan, I will keep my fingers crossed for you, and put you in my prayers. A little over 2 years ago, when I was banded, just a month later my DH was suddenly diagnosed with a failing mitral valve in his heart, before he could get to surgery, a poorly done angiogram left him with a blood clot, so surgery was postponed for an additional 3 months, then he had open heart surgery. Followed by 2 months recuperation, and before he could get back to work, the idiot Dr.'s locally struck again, and mismanaged his blood thinners, and he had a massive GI bleed. That left him in ICU for days on end, then although they managed to save his life, in doing so, thickening his blood so---they disrupted the heart surgery so it had to be redone! We went from happy go lucky, self paying for my band, to him being out of work for almost a year! If our home had not been paid for we would have been SOL! We would have lost it without a doubt. As it was we ran up credit card debt, just surviving. We are now paying it down. One of the big credit card companies, kept increasing our credit limit----I mean we were the kind of customers they liked, we used the card, and paid the minimum on time monthly---getting in deeper and deeper! But we were not doing so by choice! Much of his surgery was done in a city 300 miles away. When he was in the hospital, I slept in his room, but he was recovering, so when we went for checkups a motel was required. We did not buy new cars or anything else for that matter, we packed a cooler with food to take sometimes, to avoid eating out! Well we wrote asking for the latest credit increase to be removed, we did not want it on our credit to have that much open credit---I mean they approved us for 100K --gimme a break--on a credit card???? We heard nothing, but sure enough on our statement, there was the available credit, over 90K!! Life got chaotic, and we just let it go. So last week I get a letter from the credit card company. And since his health has improved, and he is working full time again, our goal is to pay it off, and we have not charged on it in over a year. So they reduced my credit limit! That shows negative on my credit report!!! I did nothing to deserve that black mark on my credit, we struggled and suffered sometimes (sleeping in a hospital chair IS suffering!!!), to maintain our credit in tough times, and now I am being punished for it??? They are unwilling to put a human on the phone....I have no idea how people struggling to save a home, get anywhere! Back in the 90's I did background checks for a mortgage company a friend run---just checking the credit, and the info provided, making sure it was all true. The mortgage company she worked for actually paid her more commission on an ARM than a set % rate! I wonder now how many of them made it..... Life comes at you when you least expect it. Like I say I would not be sitting here in this house, if I had had a mortgage to make when we got side swiped by life itself! Count your blessings....because when you least expect it, life may jump up and bite you in the ass as well. I truly hope not, I understand the frustration of seeing your home values drop, and knowing you are paying more than others, and the fear you live in as the neighborhood declines.....it is all understandable. But negativity breeds negativity, I honestly believe we can make a situation better by looking for the positive. And going to bed at night in your own home....is a definite positive! Kat

Depending on the size of your band, and the size of your fills, you may not have even begun to squeeze it down even with 4 fills. Sounds to me like it is time to make yourself known! At your next fill, simply sit there, make no move to get up and leave even with their opening the door moves that are to encourage you to leave, just sit there until your questions are answered, same with the nutritionist, if she must leave to take a call, be there waiting when she gets back, tell her "I'll wait, I have a few questions" You or your insurance, one is paying them---they work for you, and if they do not, maybe it is time to find someone who will. In the meantime, do your best to eat healthy foods, even if you find yourself eating a lot of them! Hang in there, when you finally get restriction, you will know it, and it will make a world of difference! Kat

Sorry the font is so small and hard to read, I tried to edit, but couldn't change the size...... Kat

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAMELA!!!! HOPE YOU ARE HAVING A WONDERFUL VACATION!!! ENJOY YOURSELF~~~~~~WE MISS YOU!!! I am home from my meeting this morning. We are short of housing for all the people coming. Some of them come such a long distance, the added expense of a motel is just not available. We usually use Foster Families for that. But with the economy the way it is, we are coming up short for that as well. When you consider most of the locals involved, drive a truck with a stock trailer.....there is no way to fit an additional family in the truck, so it means driving another vehicle, and gas over $4 bucks a gallon----and sometimes these kids have events in the morning and then again in the evening....and Foster Families usually provide transportation, and some meals. We just don't have the response we did 4 years ago. We donated use of our travel trailer, and it looks like I might end up fostering a family as well.....not something I planned to do! I know that is terrible, to expect others to do something when I wasn't going to. I am just not a wonderful hostess----I don't know what to do with them! Add in Rick's schedule, my having Kinsey so much, and we live in a small house.....and I really don't want to! But even more than that I don't want a kid who qualified being unable to come because they have no place to stay. I could do it easily if it were just the kids----it is the entire family I have issues doing----lack of room, and kids are easy--they don't mind grabbing a burger or a pizza, but with an entire family that costs too much! But I am going to do what I gotta!! We made it through the night with no flare ups. We had several hot spots when Rick and I went through it again last night, and he got down the big limbs that burned, before they possibly fell. It looks so bad. It is wierd, in places it burnt perfect squares.... TracyKS, hoping all goes well with your Mom today. Will be thinking of you. TracyK, enjoy story time. Last week we went, and they made the kids paper hats out of newspapers....Kinsey loved it! I got a check in the mail yesterday for over $8000.00, from the county!!! So I knew there was a mistake.....but man I was hoping it was not! It was it was supposed to go to someone for laying carpet---now how and why it was sent to us, I have no idea. But I feel a letter to the editor of the paper coming on, about shoddy bookkeeping practices!! The treasures position is elected, and used to be held by a friend of mine. Well one of her workers somehow lost or the bank lost a deposit. She went public with it, they all took lie detector tests, and the video camera finally showed the girl in the bank after hours drop off. So, she changed procedure, and had a courier pick up began. Well come election time the guy in office now crucified her for it, and won the election. I think it high time he got knocked down a peg or 2!!! LOL Well I am on my 2nd bottle of water, but need food, so guess I will go scavenge!!! Also need to fold some laundry and change the sheets on the bed. Even after steady showers I smell smoke on them! BBL~~ Kat

Just do your research......end of story! Be very honest with yourself, about how you eat, how you are about follow up, what you want out of WLS.....how much work you are willing to do with it to make it work. When you decide which surgery you are serious about then begin looking into surgeons with experience in that particular surgery. If you choose to be banded, call your local band surgeons, or attend their seminars, and ask point blank about fills for outside banded patients. There are Dr.'s who do them---I have one, many people do. In my case, I had originally chosen a surgeon out of Colorado, not Dr. K, not sure he was around doing them when I had mine done----don't remember to be honest! Anyway I went through close to a year with this surgeon in mind, and then insurance began a huge ordeal, and I was going to be forced to begin a year long supervised diet program, for the 2nd time. In the end, I did not find that acceptable, and chose to self pay---but his costs were way over my head. So I researched Mexico Dr.'s and actually discussed it with him, with my Uncle who is a MD, and read and talked to as many of his patients as possible. Before I ever had surgery, my Dr.'s -- the surgeon, as well as the CO based surgeon I was planning to use for fills, and a local oncologist who agreed to do an emergency unfill for me if ever necessary----all spoke to one another on the phone. I felt this was necessary because I am from a rural area. Traveling to Mexico would be fine if time and money allowed---which I knew they might not always! The original surgeon I chose was one of the closest to me, and he was still 6 hours away one way. So in an emergency even that seemed a long ways away, so that is when I spoke to my former oncologist about doing an emergency tap to my port for unfill purposes only. He spoke with the surgeon, my fill Dr. spoke to my surgeon, and only when all was agreed upon did I make my move to be banded in Mexico. I could not have ask for a better experience. I have seen my surgeon/fill Dr. in CO no less than a dozen times, but have only needed 2 fills and one total unfill for my TT. This surgery is happening to YOU---research and decide what works for YOU. People will tell you to DO THIS or DON'T DO THAT--well that may be their experience, and it might be fine for them, but this is for you. Many of us have been banded out of Mexico without issues. Some people have issues, some banded in the US have issues----it does happen. Finding a Dr. you can work with who treats you as a person not an ATM---one who will take your calls and answer your questions. One who is not simply pushing one type of surgery on you because that is what they prefer. That is what you want to find, wherever you find it. There are also Fill Centers USA scattered around the country and they I understand specialize in fills for Mexican banded patients. The best thing you can do is research until your eyes cross, and ask lots of questions of lots of people, and make lots of phone calls----it seems overwhelming in the beginning, but they can't eat ya over the phone I finally learned!!! Good Luck in making your decision----and make it an informed one!!! Asking questions is the perfect first step!!! Welcome to LBT!! Kat

Suzie, I did fair.....I am sure I was well above 800 calories, but I always have been. I had cereal for breakfast, then part of a burger for lunch, and 2 chicken strips for dinner, with ranch dressing. I had no issue getting my water in, going up and down the hillside, and shoveling all morning, had me guzzling water. But my scale went up 2 pounds after behaving yesterday!!! I might have to do a Laura and refuse to exercise!!! LOL Where is everyone???? Kat

Tracy, I am so sorry to hear about your Mom's issues, of course I will put her in my prayers, along with you and your sister to be strong to help her through this. I agree she needs to find out for sure, these things are so much better when found early. With her history.....YOU be sure to check yourself regularly, and even insist on extra yearly exams---like blood work up (CA 125) with your annual exam----they can do tumor marker blood work! I do it twice a year. Hugs to you Hon! Kat

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHELLE---HOPE IT IS A WONDERFUL DAY FOR YOU!!!! ENJOY!!! Good morning--well it was a long night. I just come down from up top, and I still have smoldering hot spots. For now the tree seems "out". A couple of strange spots were evident, so I moved the Water hose to those areas. We just don't have enough pressure going uphill to do a lot of good. We are discussing dropping a few hoses into the ditch and trying to get our own syphon going. We used to flood irrigate the yard that way. But the entire ditch bank is black and charred----not thinking it is going to be easy to get up there---it is a pretty steep incline. Purposely so, I mean there is a large fast running canal/ditch up there, we do not want it to be easy access.....So we put in a headgate and run water to the lower sections---which works great on gravity feed....but not so great for this. Considering, if there continue to be hotspots, calling the fire dept. back out for another spray down. They were here til after midnight, I was up til 3. Everytime I would almost relax to sleep, Rick's alarm would go off, and I of course had to go with him, I didn't want him up there alone!!! Behind our property it butts up against the High School Ag building and farm area, and then BLM land. There is a huge hill behind our house, and kids climb it often. The sports teams run it for building endurance---heck I run it daily in high school! It is commonly referred to as football hill because the football team runs it morning and night. The fire marshall thinks the liklihood is that kids were shooting some sort of bottle rocket or aerial display fireworks off of the big hill, and the sparks ignited in several areas of dry cotton. This time of year in areas around here it looks like it is snowing, the cotton blows so heavy. There are female and male cottonwood trees, and the female trees produce huge hanging pods of cotton---it blows all over and irritates the hell out of my allergies to boot! Well cottonwood trees grow along the ditchbank thick. We removed all the producing trees from our place, but there is cotton everywhere anyway. The cotton blows, and of course gathers along tree bases or fence lines--anything that stops it as it blows, and that is exactly where our fires were-------the entire perimeter of the land, all the trees....it just followed the cotton and went crazy. The entire time we are fighting the fire, and the firemen are busting their butts trying to save things you can hear the pop, pop, pop of fireworks in the distance, at the school. They radio'd for a Police officer to cruise the school area. Nothing else was said though. And I have a neighbor down the road with a 13 year old who is into everything, always in the middle of things, and he was conspicuously absent last night while the neighborhood was running around dealing with this. Us and the neighbors on either side of us got the worst of it. But it is sad, not devastating.....We did lose our shed, nothing left but a black blob! So I will call our insurance agent this morning, and have him come take a look....see what we can do. But at least I am calling him from home! I am going to look on the sign at the fire dept. and see when the next Volunteer Firefighter meeting is, I think they meet each Thursday night. I will make something and take to the meeting, and plan to write a thank you letter in our small local paper. I had an NSV in the middle of it all last night---besides actually being able to run---yep RUN up and down the hillside. They had several hoses into the ditch, and these are firehoses--large fabric hoses. They attach pump to the nozzle, and begin a syphon from the ditch. They had a LOT of areas of fire, and only about 8 volunteers here when it first broke out. The one firefighter ask Rick if he could handle the hose, he said yes and took over the big hose spraying down the shed. When the next one began pumping good, he ask the same thing of Spence (neighbor from across the street---being a good neighbor, I owe him too!), so Spence took a hose. The guy started to leave, and I told him I can use a hose on the front---and he told me he didn't think I was quit big enough to handle it!! LOL Of course it was more likely him thinking "this stupid bimbo is up here in flip flops and shorts!" But that is what I was wearing when it happen. My pedicure from yesterday----a total loss. I actually singed my shirt I was wearing! I had to get those clothes we had on out of the hamper, they stunk so badly of smoke---and I saw the edge frayed and the hem singed......and I melted my flip flops!!! Rick 9 days out of 10 will come in, and change into shorts and sandals from his jeans and steel toed boots. But I had dinner ready, and our plan was to go for a ride, so he didn't change! Oh yeah I had another loss......I went to pull the sprinkler off the roof, and when I tried to grab it I broke 3...count 'em 3 fingernails at one time! I'm supposed to go to lunch with Marie, I think we might order in and hang out here so I can keep watch. Well, I cannot stand myself, off to yet another quick shower, the stench of the smoke is killer! Will keep you posted! Thanks for all the well wishes. Nothing of sentimental value was lost. Lots of hard work destroyed.....but hey we needed something to do, right???? Hugs~ Kat

Hi girls~~rough night at our place. We have been in the yard since about 6:45 or so, fighting a fire. I have a large back yard, then it is fenced, and we have an access road (thank goodness) running through, then it goes up a hillside, natural with sagebrush, and levels out again where we had a huge cottonwood tree, probably 65 years old. We had the upper tier landscaped, with railroad ties, and had a fire pit, horseshoe pitching area, tetherball pole.....just a recreational area. Then the land raises again, and on the other side of that raise is a large (7 foot deep, probably 10 foot across) irrigation ditch/canal. We had been on the back porch and all was well as we grilled our steak. We come in, and were in the process of eating, when our neighbor across the street yanked open our front screen and yelled "The hill is on fire!" Rick and I took off, and when I hit the garage I could see flames, he yelled that his wife called 911. So we grabbed shovels, and headed out there. It wasn't just our upper tier hill area---it was the entire block! We are the last row of homes. And each lot is minimally 1/2 acre. There was patches of flame everywhere, and our huge cottonwood tree is flaming! The path up the side is lined with very unique drift wood type of logs, twisted, and shaped really cool.....but as you hit the top they are burning, our row of cherry and pear trees are burning. The side garden with cactus, and native grasses is in a huge blaze. Rick and Spence the neighbor took off and began spraying water and shoveling dirt on the tree, and I hit the trail so we would not get fire blocked in, almost caught my own hair on fire!!! Finally we heard the sirens, and the volunteers started showing up. There are no hydrants back there, but they rigged some pumps into the ditch, and began knocking down some of the flames. We lost the entire ditch bank.....several trees, and all our landscaping, likely our big tree.....it burned through some lower limbs and they are up there sawing them now. Still spraying hot spots. I come down when the fire dept got here, and filled a laundry basket with files holding our birth certificates, marriage license, titles, land deeds, CD papers.....everything in the file cabinet I thought important. Grabbed the portable hard drives with our pictures and music. And stashed it in the car so if the fire jumped to the yard we could get out. The main part of my back yard, the grassed area, with the swingset etc. in it, is ok. We have huge rainbirds spraying it down now, and the oscillating sprinkler on the roof of the house. But the hillside, our property extension looks to be a complete loss. Ours as well as neighbors. Will know more in the morning, when it is light enough to see. I went out and listened a minute ago, and they have quit spraying. They are now letting it sit, for 20 minutes, then will hit it with a fine mist to see if they raise any hot spots. The fire marshall told me our big tree would likely smolder for a week! He said he fully believes he will be back out here before morning, it will likely re ignite. It just makes me sick! It scared the hell outta me, not just the fire, but Rick and my Dad----they saw the smoke as they headed home from dinner out! They were up there in the midst of it all shoveling dirt on flames 12 foot high! But this is a small town with a strictly volunteer dept. and this fire was a block long and spreading fast! The neighboring volunteer units eventually showed up, and it was finally controlled. My stuff is still in the car, and Rick has set his cell alarm to go off every 90 minutes so he can go check on things if the fire dept leaves. I cannot imagine sleeping at this point. I keep thinking of things that were up there......gardening tools, wheelbarrows, water pump.....thousands of dollars worth of fencing, and edging. My dog and cat are buried up there, with little markers......so much is gone. But our house is not and we are not! The neighbor got his dogs and chickens down and safe....so nothing that way was lost----it was all replaceable things. It stinks soooooooo bad. We cannot run the AC (swamp coolers are what we use here) because it pulls in outside air, and the air is filled with smoke and nasty. I have hit my inhaler 3 times so far. Blew my nose while I was waiting my turn in the shower, and it was black! So if my nose had that I know my lungs do, I was running up and down the hill and shoveling till I was breathing hard. Thank God I am in better shape than I was! I did not do a lot, but I saved our pathway in and out. Will take some pics tomorrow..... Sorry for rambling on so, I am totally wired, still shaking. Looking around for Rick and seeing him just in relief --- black in front of a wall of orange fire is a scary thing! Kat

That doesn't surprize me Jane. When Rick had his heart stuff going on, he had an angiogram done here as an outpatient, as part of the pre op testing. To see if perhaps there was a need for bypass at the same time, which there was not, and the moronic Dr. caused a blood clot doing the angiogram....but anyway. It was an outpatient procedure. The local hospital is out of network, because while I live in NM, DH's company was based out of TX so our insurance is BCBS of TX. So then we went to Albq. for the actual open heart surgery. He was in CICU for 3 days, and had the bypass machine on, all the stuff involved in open heart surgery. That hospital, accepted assignment of our insurance! Our total out of pocket for the entire open heart surgery, surgeons fees, anesthesia, everything through the Heart Hospital of Albq. was $638.00. The total for the angiogram locally.......with insurance coverage was 10 X that----over $3700.00!!! Scary!!! Good luck with your negotiations! Kat

Didn't Julie have a drain in for quite some time, in fact it eventually fell out I think.....but then again, I HAVE slept since then so might be full of it!!! I am still having some swelling issues, by evening, I look deformed some nights!!! My left side swells SO much more than the right! But all in all it looks good. I have an end stitch, one of the underneath ones, trying to fester up and out, and it is tender! And of course right where the waist of most of my jeans hit! But the drainage from the incision quit, and it is totally healed now. I do have a loop of stitch sticking out the middle of it, I tugged on it, and felt it way down on the end, so left it the hell alone!!! Dummy me!!! I know the drain is a pain, I seriously know that----but........I also know it would have been better to be draining in a controlled way than when I was leaking from the incision, and having to use gauze pads, and change them....I was even using a maxi pad, tuck to the front of my panties so if the gauze leaked through, it would catch on the pad, and not ruin my clothes! I am telling you, I had not bought pads in years, I had a hysterectomy 5 years ago, my DD's are both grown and gone from home---I went to Walmart and was faced with an entire wall of sanitary products!!! Holy Smokes!!! I finally settled on thin with no wings, did not think my belly needed to fly!!! I am glad to hear you are all doing well. My PS give me the ok to begin exercising slowly last Wednesday. I am supposed to wear my compression when I do. I have been out of town, and dealing with a death in the family so just today made it to Curves. I did one slow, cautious loop through the machines, and felt it seriously in my abs!!! OMG!!! But I also have muscle repair work, not just the TT. Walking is not an issue. I also have to wear my compression on the bike or the horse. Today was the first time I actually have been without it all day so far. Feels like I am swelling earlier than usual. Guess that is to be expected. I look forward to following how you girls are doing. And as for coming to NM-----anytime---you let me know, and if you are not in my area (4 corners) I will travel to Santa Fe or Albq. or wherever and we can meet up!!! Hugs~ Kat

Rick tried the Thin Mint Blizzard, but mint is one thing that gives me almost instant heart burn, so a bite and I was done!!! Now....we did go into a chocolate factory in Pagosa Springs.....and I ended up walking out with 1/4 pound of Turtle Fudge!!! We shared it after dinner, and that was my weekend splurge. Mostly I behaved. Today I bought some clothes! I HATE sizes I swear! I bought a pair of Levi capri's in a size 10. Another pair of demin capri's in a size 8. A pair of (gotta love this name so thought I would share it!) Bare Naked Skinny Jeans in a size 11. And then in Walmart I bought a pair of button and zip cotton capri's----in a small size 4-6. Now give me a break, I have lost weight, but in no world am I a size 4-6. I am still overweight!!!! I give up trying to figure what size to try on even!! I also bought a really pretty coral colored blouse---the new pleated style---to wear to my Uncles funeral. Manda give me a pair of black slacks in a size 11, so will wear them. Funerals here are very casual compared to the ones we go to in Texas. There it is suits, ties, and dresses no matter what!!! Here slacks work! Also bought a couple of tshirt style shirts. The one pair of denim capri's have a small band around the bottom of striped fabric, in purples and greens---so going to look for a shirt to match them tomorrow. TracyKS that is a great pic of you and your bike!!! You will be so thrilled when you do get that belly whacked---it will shock you!!! I pushed and pulled mine trying to get an idea what it would be like without it----it was nothing like what it ended up being. To be able to shower without lifting and washing under it, and to pull on a pair of pants without going over it, or tugging my shirts down long over it.....is absolutely, freaking awesome!! Jane I am seeing Lori, my stylist this week-----I feel a change a comin'.......WOW I sound like a politician!!! Suzanne----you feeling ok? DO not overdo until you find out about your back, I don't want you to do serious permanent injury to it. You scare me with your go go go!! Well I have jalapenos stuffed, ready to grill, and steaks to go on the grill. For lunch I had grilled chicken salad, and must admit, I skipped breakfast. I have drank 2 glasses of iced tea and 3 bottles of water. I did a gentle single trip around the machines at Curves, I felt a lot of them in my abs!! So I only did one round, and will try to slowly work back up. Also walked the mall with my Mom. So far today, so good! Kat