travelgirl

BEWARE! SF candy WILL give you the trots. You just don't need that on top of everything else right now. It's just not worth it. unjury makes a Protein powder that is chicken broth flavor if you're looking for a savory protein source instead of the standard sweet.

I can relate. My DH's family is getting more and more awkward to be around, his mom died 5 years ago, and that was hard on all of us. Since then, his dad has lived with 2 women. The current one makes sure that they spend time with HER kids/grandkids, and doesn't make any effort on her part to make sure that he's involved with HIS kids/grandkids. Now, I know he's a grown man and can make his own decisions, but I suspect he's being kept so busy that he doesn't know when to squeeze any time out for us, and doesn't care enough to make it a point to do so. These are just my ramblings, DH and I don't have any kids, so it doesn't affect us as much, but he totally missed his own granddaughter's 13th birthday. Didn't call or anything. It disgusts me because the kids love him and miss him, but he's always busy with his GF's family, and his own grandkids feel abandoned by him. All that to say this: The awkwardness is less noticeable when we're a housefull of people. The less people involved in the gathering, the more awkward it becomes. Your sister would actually be helping you keep it from becoming too awkward by BEING THERE with you. Her absence automatically adds to the tension. I'd slap her upside the head for you if I could, that's just not acceptable.

I used a hand blender, something like this. Mine was $20, but they had them as cheap as $10 on up to $100, just depends on how much you want to spend on it. Works great! I still use it to blend Protein shakes and to get lumps out of gravy. Clean up is SO easy, too. [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Braun-MR430HC-Multiquick-Blender-Chopper/dp/B00004S9GX/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1198253732&sr=8-1][/ame]

Well, now I have to learn who you are all over again! LOL!

One of the ways mushy foods were explained to me was "Can you stir it with a spoon, with no chunks?" I'm guessing that you can't do that with your meatloaf. I certainly can't!

Yes, you CAN chew your meatloaf and things to mush, but what if you accidentally swallow a piece of it that isn't chewed up and end up getting stuck? Much safer to blend everything in the mushy stage. You'll have plenty of time to take your chances on solid food getting stuck when you move on to that stage of your diet.

MMMMMMMMMMMM Grits

Welcome to LBT! I hope that you find the support and advice you're seeking here!

You're not a bad daughter. I can understand your feelings, because I'm sure that you are convinced that they will both find ways to eat around the band, and it won't work for them, and then it will be your fault. YOU convinced them this was a good idea FOR THEM (which you clearly didn't, you convinced them that it's a good idea for YOU), and now that it's not working, it's all your fault, and why didn't you explain it to them better? Is that about right?

Good luck, Julie!

Thanks. It felt good to write it, and get it off my chest. Very few people are aware of any of it. The ones who were aware of it have mostly forgotten. Thanks, Babygrl for starting this thread! That was very cleansing.

Laura, I think that sums up what I've been feeling for awhile. It's ridiculous how everyone tries to modify their plans to make us comfortable because of their notions about our bands. It almost makes me feel like I'm being treated like I'm handicapped, or something. It gets old, but I know they mean well (mostly).:tired

Wow, Chris! Great job! We'll sure miss you around here, and I hope you'll be safe while you're over there. Congratulations!

*grins* Enjoy!

DH can mean Dear Husband, Darn Husband, or whatever else you'd like to insert for the "D".

AND for those that DON'T like beans in their Chili, here's another good one for Chili: Chili Without Beans 2 lbs hamburger 1 large onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 15 oz canned chunky tomato sauce 12 oz thick and chunky salsa 2 tsp Mexican seasoning or chili powder 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped Brown hamburger, drain. Mix beef and remaining ingredients except bell pepper in crockpot. Cover and cook on low heat 6-8 hours. Stir in bell pepper, cover and cook on low 15-30 minutes or until bell pepper is tender.

Every time I make that chili for anyone, they always rave about it, and want the recipe. You and your hubby will love it, and it is heat customizable, so you can make anyone's tastebuds happy!

Call the doc and see if they can prescribe some anti-nausea meds. I don't even know if they work on flu symptoms, but it can't hurt. You poor thing. I hope you get over it quickly!

Bump!!!!!!!!

Oh, God, the Blueberry White Tea is awful. It smells like a blueberry muffin and it's WAY sweet. I love the Fruit Punch, it's my favorite.

Refried Beans Cottage cheese mixed with salsa or marinara sauce cottage cheese mixed with SF jelly or preserves mashed potatoes SHREDDED chicken salad (NOT chopped chicken) tuna salad or crab salad There are lots of choices, just be creative! My first mushy meal was blended meatloaf and mashed potatoes with gravy!

This is the EASIEST recipe for chili EVER, make sure you make this in a 5 or 6 qt crock pot, it makes a LOT, or you can halve it, and it would fit in a 3.5 qt crock pot. Crock Pot Chili 2 cans red kidney Beans undrained 2 cans chili beans undrained (use your own heat preference) 2 cans diced tomatoes, stewed tomatoes or tomato sauce (again, your preference) 2-3 lbs ground beef or ground turkey, browned and drained 1 or 2 LG chopped onions (added to recipe uncooked) 1 envelope of your favorite chili seasoning mix (I like McCormick) Dump all ingredients in crock pot, cook on low 8 hours (It's ready to eat after a couple of hours, but the longer it simmers, the more tender the meat, and the better the flavors meld together) Serve with your favorite chili fixin's!

Dear unborn child of mine. I can never express how sorry I am that I never gave you the chance to be born. I was only a child myself, and didn't fully understand that what I was doing would haunt me forever. As a Christian now, I know that God forgave me, but it's much harder to forgive myself. I hope that someday we will meet, and that I will be able to see how beautiful you are in heaven. Love, Your regretful mom

How much longer do you have to be around it at work??

You poor thing. Stay strong, you WILL be able to eat those types of things again, just not in the immediate future. Here's a (((((((cyber hug))))))) for you!