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Candra - thought I might catch you on in your no sleep mode. I worked until 1:30 am. It is nuts trying to get everything done for 4 weeks and I have no management support since I have a new manager and I am needing to leave everything for one of my staff that isn't a manager so doesn't know how to do certain things. Aarrrghh - I really didn't need this stress right before surgery! I ate when I came home tonight - soup and bread with peanut butter. Not the best choice but it is late and I am beyond tired. So tired I can't sleep. I am also still a little freaked about the only 1/4 or 1/2 cups. I can't seem to believe that I will be full and have enough energy with that little food. Interesting that your doc says you shouldn't be hungry. Everyone seems to be struggling and I know I probably will be too. I just want this to be workable and to be able to lose it once and for all - I hope all this won't turn into another failed attempt for me. OK so I am probably overtired and worrying too much. Tamra - thinking a lot about you - sending healing thoughts your way.

Tamra - I am so happy for you. Happy Band day! I have been thinking about you all day! I also remember the time on here when you almost gave up - I am so proud of you that you stuck with it. Be gentle with yourself the next few days - you need to rest and let your body heal. I just got home from work at 11:30 and I still can't believe how much I have left to do by Monday to be ready to be gone for 4 weeks - having a new boss isn't helping!!! Ok 5 days to Surgery!! (Nicollie you are right behind me!) I am not sleeping well but really am anxious for Tuesday to get here - I want to move on with this! I am eating OK so far this week - not the smallest portions but at least good stuff. Had a bad moment tonight since I didn't have dinner with me and thought about the snack machine but I had a protein shake instead. Question for all the vetrans - I did not get any pills to take before surgery like Tamra did. Did they forget to give them to me? Should I call Liz? Also, dumb question but did you bring your own bathrobe and slippers with you or just use the hospital gown? Riley - I signed up for the Emotional Eating class on 1/27 but of course will miss the first class. Are you signed up yet? Happy belated B'day to Jes and Ash!

Healthyone - there is a great group on here under "Pre-Op" called Kaiser Richmond. Most of the women have had their surgery done at Kaiser in Richmond - but some have had it at other Kaiser hospitals. Most are from the east bay and near sacramento, but 2 of us are North Bay. I am from Petaluma and Riley is from Santa Rosa. We try to meet up about once a month for a walk and lunch. The group is made up of pre-op, people just investigating and newly Post-Op and multi-year Post Ops. It is a great group - very supportive and fun - check it out. Also there is a monthly meeting at the Wells Fargo Center in Santa Rose (2nd Saturday) put on by the Sonoma County Weight Loss group. They are found under Yahoo groups and you have to request to be added and then they send their meeting notices, etc. Also Kaiser Santa Rosa has a support group that is open to non-members that meets the 3rd Thursday of each month from 6:30 to 8. Hope this helps.

Hi all - had a quiet weekend - love the sound of rain on the roof. I am reading Stones into Schools by Greg Mortensen; he wrote Three Cups of Tea. It is about him getting lost when he didn't make it mountain climbing up K2 and he ended up in a small village in northern Pakistan where he was helped and he promised to come back and build the village a school. The book I am reading picks up after the first school was built - today he has built 131 schools in Pakistan and Afganistan that have reached 58,000 kids - all community built and all open to educating girls in equal numbers as boys. Since this was Marin Luther King Jr holiday here is a quote from Dr. King that started chapter 6 "But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough, can you see the stars." Tamra - I am sending positive vibes your way and lots of prayers. You will do fine. Just make sure you can rest after. I will send you a PM with my number. Remember you are doing this so you will be healthy a long long time for you and for your daughter. You are doing a great thing by taking this step to take care of yourself. I am swamped at work and didn't make it to the SR support group tonight and won't make it to the Richmond group tomorrow. I have alot I have to get done before I am out for 4 weeks. I have been a little down - worried about if I will be able to do it since I have failed so many times at weight loss - I keep thinking about how little food 1/4 and 1/2 c are. (I'm a volume eater!). I seriously wish mine were tomorrow too, I think I have been waiting and thinking for too long! Jes - Happy belated B'day. Nicole - so glad your ankle is a little better. Candra - we should get on and talk at night - I'm not sleeping well either! Riley - what have you been up to? Nicollie - we are cheering for you - can't wait to see when you will get scheduled. Lee - you sound like you are almost there - awesome! Pam, Maria, Donna, Annalyn, Reggie, John - hope you are all well. Good night all

Tamra - you are doing great. I am snacking too much today; stressed about work. I am getting a new boss, and I have a ton of things to get done before I am out. So don't have time to do all the intro stuff and getting him up to speed. My old boss and I get along very well and she has been really supportive. The new one has no personality and disagrees with every idea I have made in the last 6 months so I am stressed. I just didn't need this extra stress with a week to go! I was up again last night - listened to the affirmation tape - it helped a little. Don't worry about the complications; Kaiser has one of the best programs in the country and you are in really good hands. It will go fine and you will feel icky for a few days and then things will start to get better. Do you have some help for the first couple of days with your daughter? John - congrats on getting your surgery date and your weight loss - way to go! Lee - you are also doing really well - you should be very soon. Yes, I was obsessed with information during my first few months getting into the program. Now, 7 months later I feel well informed and well cared for in the Kaiser program so I think I am at a point that I think it is time just to act. There is nothing in life that is risk free and I think I have evaluated the risks with this and feel confident that they are small, especially in Kaiser's program, and the risks of being 100lbs overweight are equally concerning. Most of all the risks to me mentally and spiruallly if I can't make some changes in this area I feel are reasons for moving forward. We all have to take this inner journey at our own pace, however. I think it is a little different for each of us. Nicole - I am so sorry about your fall. Dr. Park told me that ibuprophen was OK so don't worry about the motrin. But like Pam and Monique said - ice, ice, ice and elevate. Lee - I agree that with Kaiser's weight loss requirement it

Tamra - OMG! I am so excited and can't believe you are now before me! I finally got my wish and will really have a buddy to do this with! Nicollie you will be with us soon too! I haven't been online all week because I've been so busy at work trying to get ready for being gone 4 weeks. I was nervous back in November but I have to say I am pretty calm - although pretty focused on it - think about it all the time. I'm so sorry your little one is not well - be really careful because they won't do the surgery if you are sick with a cold, etc. And stop with the junk - you are gonna stay on track and be a skinny gorgeous RDA! (So happy you are looking into that and going back to school! - my sister-in-law is in the dental field and RDAs and hygenists are in demand and make good $$.) OK so here is what I've gone out and gotten: - chewable vitamins and calcium (I orderd the bariatric ones because Viactiv isn't calcium citrate and that is the one that is suppose to be better - especially for us well seasoned gals who are thru the Big M - not that you have to worry about that you young thing!) - liquid tylenol - tylenol gelcaps - benefiber - MOM - still need to buy GASX, but Lee (thank you!) recommended Carbo Vegatabalis - a natural product. - jello - soup (to strain and eat the broth - I hate straight broth) and then some cream soups for Stage II - cream of wheat (never have had it - hope it isn't like grits!) I also have been listening to the visualization tape that they give in the pre-op class. I have a hard time sleeping (staying asleep) especially when I am stressed or have alot going on / on my mind. It is really relaxing and I really like the positive affirmation track. (Anyway I think something must be sinking in that will help.) I am so psyched we will be doing this together! Re: the comments about the online group from Liz, I think that this is all about support and having people that understand your struggles and your triumphs. I agree that we all are intelligent women (and John!) and can make our own decisions about the advise and opinions expressed here. I also agree with Candra that when we talk about our slip ups it isn't to encourage each other to fail but to be honest and accountable to a group that will not judge us. When one or more of us is struggling there is usually someone who is doing well and can reach out to pull the others ups. That is what this is all about and it is so important. Riley has been awesome to me about involving me in other local support groups in our area and they are terrific, but they are not everyday. This is here everyday 24/7 whenever we need it. Not having been on since Monday, I really missed all of you and I took the time tonight to read all 5 long pages that I missed! Love all my sistas of surgery (and John)! 10 Days to Go to be an offical SOS!!!

Nicollie - you have been doing an awesome job. Your attitude is so positive. I love what you said about everything happening in its own time for a reason. Below is a prayer that my sister sent me. I printed and taped it to my computer at work since I tend to stress about work, not doing the work I want to, etc. and when I read it it really grounds and calms me. You have been a wonderful inspiration as has the whole online group of wonderful SOS women! I also have to offer special thanks for Riley - she has been my hero and such a good support. I hope I can repay the support and love one day. May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others... May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are.. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us..'

Candra - yes, I think I'm ready. My head is there already so the waiting is starting to get to me. I just want it done with so I can get on with things. Can't concentrate at work with s---! I started getting all the stuff together I will need and started to really think about how little food I will eating. Not sure I have fully come to terms with the 1/4 cups yet, but I'm sure I will get there. I have been going down this path since July so I really think I am ready. I am a pretty good analyzer, but I always get to a point where it is time to just make a decision and act. I am at that point. Enough thinking about it - just do it!!

Tamra - my case manager appt was 11/23 and at the appt. she offered me 12/7 with a different surgeon. I really like Dr. Park and didn't want to change and I wanted my surgery for after the holidays. The January schedule wasn't available then so I had to wait for her to call me in about a week and half. I think some of the back up was the holidays and also more people wanted to do surgery around them because of the time off. So I am sure you and Nicollie get dates pretty quick. I was surprised there were a lot of people in my pre-op class - only a few lap banders - maybe 4 -5, and about 25 RNYers and 2 sleeves. I don't know how frequently they do the pre-op classes (Liz and Robin taught mine - 2 classes offered back to back.)

Tamara and Nicollie - You guys rock! Congratulations! You will be my band buddies! I just did my pre-op classes on Thursday, my labs on Friday and met with Dr. Park this morning. Everything is fine and I am set to go. 2 weeks! Jes - Yes, I started getting my stuff this weekend; my vitamins, calcium, MoM, liquid tylenol. I still need to get the GASX strips - I forgot those so I added them to my list. This weekend I will get the jello, and soup. BTW - congrats on the boys hitting 21 - so fun. When Nick turned 21 (1.5 yrs ago) he wanted to go wine tasting. So my dear, there is no way you are old, because that would make me older and I, most certainly, am not!!! (Everyone say prayers for him - he has applied for 6 jobs on Capital Hill and has a interview this morning in Senator Boxer's office - he so wants to work either in the senate or house and has been trying for 6 months. I really hope something comes through for him.) Emotionally I am really impatient now. All I can think about is the surgery, so it is really hard to for me to try to focus on work. I want it to be over with. I am over the Holiday sugar finally and was down again this morning at Kaiser - I am almost 13 under my surgery goal weight - maybe I will be able to hit a total of 35 lbs by 1/26. Love to you all.

Hi everyone - just checking in. Did not make it to Richmond meeting tonight; I've had the flu since Monday, but have been trying to work so am dragging. Had a rough day when I got home from our walk on Sat. - binged. Riley said she did too as it got close to her surgery date. It is less than 3 weeks away for me and I remember how nervous Maria was. I think I'm headed in that direction! I have my pre-op classes tomorrow. Tamra - awesome on the weight! You rock. We are going to be doing this together!! So sorry about your grandma - I'll say a prayer. Good night all.

Riley, Nicolie, Jes, Pam, Monique it was so great to see you again today. What a great get together - I'm at 10,855 steps so far today thanks to the SOS! Candra and Tamara it was awesome to finally meet you in person - you are both beautiful. It was great to meet Hannah Banana and Tamaran (sp?) too. Tamara and Nicolie you are both so close - you can do it - I need surgery buddies! It was great to get support and hugs today. Just what I needed to help me get back on track. Donna, Tina, Maria, Lee, Reggie, Liz, Beatriz, Ash, Nicole, Annalyn, John we all missed you. We need to get everyone next time. Love and virtual hugs to everyone,

Jes - can you post directions from 80 again? We'll be coming from 37 and getting on 80 at Vallejo. Thanks

Hi Ladies and John, Sorry I have been MIA - lots of things going on with family visiting etc. I will be there tomorrow. Candra I can't wait to meet you in person finally. Riley, I sent you a PM about car pooling. I'm going to leave you a voice mail message too. Can't wait to see everyone. I need support. These holidays have been hard. Last night I drank and had fattening appetizers and ate at least 6 chocolate chip cookies. I can't wait for this tempting food to be gone and back to the regular routine on Monday. Love to all my SOS's. Hey, I'm in my count dow - 25 days to Surgery!!!

Morning Everyone! After I posted on 12/26 I had said the goodies all over the house were calling me. I had 2 cookies and a brownie and 6 pieces of candy. That did it. Yesterday, I packed up all the goodies in 1 large plastic container that you can't see in and told the boys if they want something to put it on a plate and eat it, but not to bring the container in the livinging room and leave it there open. I also put all their candy from their stockings in bags in the cuboard. I also exercised yesterday for the first time in almost 2 months. Have started doing weights, back on my exercise bike and took a long 45 minute walk. Got out my new pedometer and walked 5,076 aerobic steps! The scale seems OK - it was down .4 from 12/18 but up 1.8 from Kaiser's scale that day. Either way I am staying back on track - I really want to try to be down a total of 40 by my surgery. Thats almost 10 lbs in a month which is a big goal, but I am going to try. Hope everyone has a healthy day today and can get back on track.

Tamra - so sorry, I didn't mean to. You have been doing well, don't slide back, you can do it. You are so close. 8 lbs! I want to try to lose 8 more by my surgery date - we can do this!!! I just had a very good healthy dinner, but I really really want to have the sweets that are all over this house! I am resisting but it is hard. Hang in.

Hi All - Merry Christmas; hope you all had a good day yesterday. Monique, thank goodness today is a new day!!! And who ever said Christmas is just one day was wrong - its been a week of sugar and it ended yesterday! I am just plain a sugar addict; I can't eat just one. Yesterday was the worst - mindless eating - not even hungry - just doing it because it was there and I was tired and felt I deserved it and it was my "last" before being banded. Not a good mindset! So today is do over - back on track. Riley, I got an Omron pedometer for Christmas! Let me know if you have any time this coming week to get together for a walk. Chris sounds like a good guy. Be patient with the kids, but don't back off - you deserve someone nice in your life. Heather - welcome home. Can't wait for pictures. Glad you had fun. Riley, Candra, Nicolie, Pam, Tina, Monique, Donna, Lee, Beatriz, Reggie, John, Liz, Jes, Annalyn, Maria and Heather (hope I didn't forget anyone)- miss you all and hope you are enjoying to holidays. Said paryers for all of us for our new lives of health this coming year. Love you all

Hi Ladies - busy weekend. Was a party girl - 2 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday. Had a dessert at one party on Saturday and a few drinkies at all of them but didn't drink the whole thing just some sips. (I know Riley, Candra and Jes would approve!!) They were good! Trying to eat well today and tomorrow because the parties start again - 1 on Tuesday night, 1 Wed, Thur & Friday! Am planning to just pick my spots - not go crazy. Riley - go girl, you deserve it. Sounds like fun ( an a little work keeping them all straight and in line! If you are off of work next week, lets get together. Maybe come down and walk at the new wetlands. Jes - would love to get together. Can do any day next week except Sat 12/26. Candra - would love to finally meet you; hopefully we can set up this walk date. Tamra - awesome on the loss. So glad you are motivated - maybe we will be band buddies! I've been thinking about you and wondering if you are not eating enough. From what you write it sounds like so little. I was just wondering if your body had gone into starvation mode given how little you eat. I am losing but I eat a lot more - I really follow the 1200 cal in the book. This is what a typical day is for me B - 3/4 c lf cottage cheese. 3/4 c nf yogurt, 1/2 c fruit, 1 slice of trader joe's daily bread (has no fat, no sugar) S- tea L - big salad with veggies, 3 oz grilled chicken, 2 tbsp lf dressing, 1 slice of trader joes's daily bread, 1 piece of fruit D - 1 cup of veggies, 3oz of meat(usually chicken, or pork tenderloin,) 8 oz skim milk, 1 slice trader joe's bread and sometimes I add 1/2 c to 3/4 c of unsweetened applesauce with cinnamon if I am not full/want a dessert. Anyway something to think about. Glad you are motivated. Miss you all - hope everyone has a really good week. We've had some nice family get togethers so far this week and it is great to have everyone together - love having my boys home!

Hi All - Kaiser gave me my Christmas present today! I weighed 2 lbs less than I weighed at home! I was a little skeptical but I'm taking it! Woo Hoo! Down 32 lbs - check out my ticker! I am psyched. My goal is now 40 lbs by Surgery - 8 more by 1/26/2010. I can do it! Lee and Annalynn - lets 'band' together so we can be the newest "sisters of surgery" as Donna says! I want buddies like Jes and Candra were when they went through! Ok the fam is waiting for me to watch a Christmas movie. We have a busy weekend so may not be back for a few days. Love and Hugs to everyone.

Heather - awesome about Diamond Head. Keep up the walking. Bring some sun and sand back for us! Tamra - great job on the weight loss; use it to keep you going. You'll get there soon. Jes - I agree; all this is about our personal choices and all our bodies/systems are different so we have to figure out what works for us. I too hope eventually to be able to have a glass of wine once in a while. Congrats on your weigh loss - I like that you set a shorter term goal; I was just thinking that I need to do something like that with having so much to lose. Ash - Please stay; this is a great group to learn from and it really doesn't matter how we get the weight off as long as we do it and get the support along the way that we need. Candra - glad you are over your court thing; I'm so sorry I missed meeting you. My son came home last night and it was so good to get a hug after almost 7 months! Riley - interesting about the fills. Your weight loss and persistance is so cool. Sorry I didn't make it to Sherry and James - got stuck at work. Wanted to give you a Christmas hug. What do you think I should do about the emotional eating class - the first class is the day after my surgery so I don't think I would be up for going out. Do you think it would be OK to miss the first one or should I sign up for the April session? Also I am using the Diet Minder diary. Any suggestions for on-line sites to get all the nutrition information - cals, carbs, Protein, etc? I weigh tomorrow at Kaiser - been good so I hope it is a good number - by my scale I'm down 30lbs! Hi to everyone else - hope all is well.

Hi All - Just checking back in; it been a busy weekend. Last night I had my staff over for a Christmas party. Costco lasagne, caesar salad and garlic bread. I didn't eat the lasagne, but put some grilled chicken on the caesar. I was fine until I was doing the clean up, then I started tasting. someone made some kind of fudge/cookie bars and I did a little bit - maybe a 1/2 inch piece and then went back for more! Also had a couple of spoonfuls of lasagne. Boy - when I taste carbs I just want more! When I weighed on Friday I was down another lb, so a total of 30 by my scale. Yeah! I have a weigh appt this Friday at Kaiser so I will update my ticker after that. Riley - you look awesome in that dress! Hope you will be at Sherry & James' tonight. Hugs to everyone else. I have to go back to work! (Only 1 more day until my oldest son comes home - can't wait!)

Lee - I'm so glad you made your choice and like your doctor. I think Richmond has a terrific program and great docs. I am sure you are very relieved. Please stay on the board for support - it is so important. I won't going Wed to the meeting because my son is coming home from DC and I haven't seen him in almost 6 months. But I usually try to get to at least 1 or the 2 meetings each month so I will see you in Jan. Riley - OMG - sounds like it was rough. Glad you are OK. You have to dish on #1 - I am going to the meeting on Sat. afterall. Gave myself a talking to - support really helps. And I can do my errands after. Tamra and Nicolie - do you eat veggies and fruit on your 1200? I find the 2 fruit and 2 veggies a day works in that department. Candra - Yes, Virginia is my grandmother. This is a picture of both of us when I was around her age when she wrote the letter. (I was round then too!)

All - here is the letter my grandmother wrote and the beautiful response. Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus By Francis P. Church, first published in The New York Sun in 1897. [see The People’s Almanac, pp. 1358–9.] We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun: Dear Editor— I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus? Virginia O’Hanlon Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world. You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood. Here is a link with more info on the editorial, etc. Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus – Beebo

Hi All - it took me a long time to catch up from a few days ago. I am plugging along - by my scale I'm down another 4, but I don't change my ticker until I weigh at Kaiser. Candra - sorry about your Kitty - poor baby. I am thinking positive thoughts for you for Monday. Glad the eating / weight is going better for you. Jes - ouch on the port pokes! Glad you can feel the restriction. Is work better - you mentioned the exams were going to be over soon? Maria - great that you aren't as hungry and doing better. Liz - good job on the eating - it is hard with all the holiday stuff around. Donna - Happy Bandaniversary. You are doin' terrific. Riley - Hope you feel better soon. I wish I could take off Wed and be with you, but I've taken off so much for dr. appts (3 EKGs!) I can't with my vacation coming up. I am waffleing about going to the SCWLS group on Sat. morning - so swamped with things to do before the holidays. I want to make sure I see you before Christmas. Will you be at Sherry and James on Tues night? Want to hear about the email guys! Oh, I bought my food journal at GNC tonight. Were the 2 columns you added How Hungry was I? and what was my emotion? Heather - Aloha! Enjoy! Pam - hope you feel better soon. Tina - glad the fill is feeling OK. Tamara - awesome on the eating. Way to go - keep it up. Nicolie - glad you are doing well. Cinlarose - we will have surgery in the same month! Can believe mine is only about 6 weeks away. Sorry if I forgot anyone. Oh BTW - for those of you with little ones, there is a new animated Christmas special on tomorrow night 'Yes Virginia" at 8 pm on CBS. Virginia is my grandmother of 'Yes Virginia There is A Santa Claus'. I'll send a post with a copy of the answer to her letter. It really speaks to the true spirit of the season.

Jes - awesome that you got your fill and can feel it! Interesting advise about Robin; good to know. Tamara - hang in, don't give up. This isn't a race; its about the rest of our lives and being healthy. You can do it! Maria - Riley pureed everthing! If it fit in the magic bullet, she says she pureed it - same food as the family ate. The mexican soup sounds great! Liz - I love Christmas too! We got all our decorations up (I didn't eat the cookies when we were decorating the tree - whoo hoo!) and I'm almost done shopping; also had fun buying toys for the little ones. (You should have seen me trying to figure out Transformers - it was on a list from our homeless shelter and my boys are grown so I had no one to ask. Pretty funny - there are a million different kinds!) Pam and Tina - hope you feel better. Candra - My doc. started me on Zoloft for anxiety and we just upped the dose. I was on Wellbutrin a number of years ago and it worked well for me then. Hope you got your new prescription. Hi Reggie! Where is everyone else? Riley? Donna? Nicolie? Annalyn? Nicole? Chris? How is everyone? - let us know.