ladykcusa

Lori - sending prayers for your daughter. Jessica - you are amazing. What a change you have made in your life. Congrats on onederland. Cheri - always enjoy reading your posts. Hi to Arlene and all my friends here. Just made the date with friend to begin at the gym again starting this Friday. Three days a week and will be up on gym floor now - avoiding jumping in Water aerobics. Knee is still bruised from injection, but time to start again. LauraK - enjoy your NYE date. We are going to an annual dinner on NYE with friends in their home. Several other couples will be there too. We'll be home by 10 pm, as my hubby does not like "in home" parties. Weather is cold here.

Merry Christmas to all my friends here at LBT.

Sending prayers for Lori's DD & SIL. Surround them with love and strength.

Arlene - We cruised every holiday for about 20 years and loved being away. The decorations are gorgeous on the ships. I always made an appointment for a massage on xmas morning. I would say a gentle prayer for all those mothers who got up at 6 a.m. to put the turkey in the oven. looking forward to the trip is half the fun.

Yippee - only soft tissue injury. Best news and gift I have for the holidays. Cortisone injection into the knee and rest. He wanted to put me on anti-inflammatory too, but chose not to when I mentioned the lap band. So rest, it is. He felt I could try water aerobics again - but I said, No way. There are plenty other forms of exercise that do NOT required jumping. I'll chose one of those. Deep sigh of relief.

Linda - congrats on being at lowest weight. You rock, GF. Tx - sending hugs to your Dad. Janet - I finally devoted myself to exercise. The last two days in November and 3 days a week in December - water aerobics. The jumping in the water aerobics has injured my knee. I feel like such an idiot - why did I think my knee could handle jumping???? duh This teacher works to get the class to target heart rate and keep us there for 35-40 minutes. Jumping jacks, bunny hop, rocking horse, hands above the head while we run or jump....... I can't believe how stupid I was. Will see what the doctor says today. I'm hoping either just resting it or immobilizing it will do the trick. Xray will tell the story. Apples - sorry to hear DH is having prostate issues. Sending prayers that all will resolve in a positive manner. Will check in after I see the doctor this afternoon. Happy holidays to all - winding down to the end of the chaos.

Tina - I experienced every emotion you mention and more. Having lost your mother last year, I'm sure is adding to your depression as you face this first holiday without her. The band is a tool that will help you lose weight and not feel hungry. Stay strong. Joyce

Have an appt. to orthopedic surgeon tomorrow, as knee is painful and swollen. Can't believe I have injured this perfect knee replacement. Yikes. Relative to "what to call Grandma". Wish I had used GJ (Grandma Joyce). But - too late. Dinner went smoothly with 10 present. Had warned all that only "light conversation and smiles" were allowed.

Jessica - wonderful grades and I agree with Karen - a C is just fine. I spent too many years trying for perfect. You are doing great. Phyl - sorry you lost your post - love the graphics to express your anger. Finished all the holiday stuff and now only have a family dinner on Sunday and one on Xmas eve. Both will be enjoyable. I NEVER cook. Went to a marvelous party on Wednesday. The band stops me from even trying most of the food. This allows time to enjoy the music coming from the baby grand piano, the decorations, the wonderful hosts and guests.... Have discovered that water aerobics is hurting my knee replacement. This teacher has lots of jumping - bunny hop, jumping jacks, rocking horse, etc....all to elevate heart rate and keep it up for 45 minutes. My knee can't take it and if I modify, I won't increase my heart rate. So, I guess it's back up to the gym floor on treadmill, eliptical, etc. Maybe a trainer again after the first of the year. Sending love to all.

Karen - I love the auto start too. Was 19 degrees here yesterday - minus 5 with wind chill last night. Wind howling and dog decided to hold his potty until spring. Jessica - way to go - you rock. Wonderful grades - 5 K - gold stars and hugs. Janet - thanks for the input regarding one more bite. Good to remind myself, "That's why I got the band". Also, good to hear how the cold can affect the band. Think I'll cancel my appt for Dec. 15th. I've been pbing often and am not hungry between meals. Had a bad cold/flu and took zpak to heal. Ate lots of soups, so we'll see when I try eating again. Melissa - good luck on new job. Julie - hope that pain gets under control, somehow. Hugs to all. Joyce

Sandy - so sorry to hear about your Dad. Sounds like it is time for assisted living. I have lots of experience with in home care. Check the phone book for agencies. Usually there is a 4 hour minimum - and levels of care - CNA, LPN, or RN charge different amounts. A CNA would probably be all that is needed for him now. In addition to caring for patient needs, they will do light housekeeping (clean toilets & load dishwasher, fold laundry, change bed) and some will pick up meds or take patient to doctor. I've used so many, I've established friendships and will call them direct for the next illness or surgery. This allows them to receive all the $$ and cuts out the agency. I don't cut the agency during the same illness - that would be improper. It can be costly - I spent $10,000 in a month of 24 hour care after my knee replacement. Long term care insurance does not kick in until patient has been down over 90 days. I have some great recommendations here in K.C., but that won't help you. So sorry you are having a difficult time seeing him aging. Joyce

Love the picture of Nels and Santa. On my way to water aerobics - taking my awful sore throat and cough with me.

Opps - forgot --- I also can NOT see who is currently viewing thread. Janet - the trip really sounded wonderful. Thanks for sharing highlights with all of us - especially those of us trapped in cold weather for a few months. lolol I'm thinking of a trip in February to get out of the cold.

Good morning ladies and Tx. Cheri - will be sending prayers with you today. 3 caskets would be so hard to see. hugs Arlene - way to go joining WW with DD. You are such a trooper. Jessica - fantastic work on your grades and exercise 5K. Wow Lori - fascinating to hear about the inversion in SLC. Have never heard of that before. LauraK - juju back at you. Laura - my DGD has contact dermatitis and is a hair dresser. Aveda products caused terrible problems with her hands, even though they are all natural. She works with Redken now. She has also had problems with elastic. Apples - we are also experiencing funerals as our social events. DH is 73 and I'm 67 - guess it is just the way of life now. Makes us thankful for each additional day we have. Phyl - loved the pix of Zoey cuddeled up in bed. So cute. I'm still fighting off this sore throat. Yuk.

Arlene - Holiday home tour sounds delightful. Enjoy. Lori - shopping with DD also sounded wonderful. Welcome back Janet. We were missed. Phyl - think I have your cold. Very sore throat, hurts to swallow. Warm liquids are soothing.

Phyl - you look beautiful in picture with Zoey and I LOVE YOUR T-SHIRT. Very funny. Sandy - way to go on training for 10K in May. Arlene - thank you for telling me how to change color on font & size. Lori - glad you and daughter enjoyed shopping, sorry about bad weather and wait for deicing on plane. Jodi - Happy Hanukkah. Enjoy family and friends. Eva - welcome home. Glad to see you back. Apples - cold weather there has spread to K.C. Got my coats out of storage on Thursday, just in time for really cold winds. They tried to sell me another, unsuccessfully. Don't need it. Cheri - you are such a blessing to your students and families. I admire you and you inspire me. Sending warm hugs to all my friends here.

Like Jodi, unable to change font and color. Oh well...... Lots of very busy ladies (and Chris). I'm leaving for Water aerobics. M,W,F with a friend. It's about time. Janet will be proud of me.

Karen - So happy you have completed your dental work. Looks great. And love the Christmas pickle tradition.

Changed font and size and both reverted to no choice. Oh well......water aerobics again today with friend. We are going 3 days a week. Yippee. Feels great and a wonderful teacher. Now, if I could only find my Water aerobics tennis shoes...... I'll look today. Has been over two years since I frequented the gym regularly. Time to start is here. Cheri - sending prayers to you and the families and students. Cold here too - 27 degrees at noon.

Thanks for all advice and good wishes.

Went to water aerobics this morning. Feel wonderful. Will go again tomorrow with dear friend. Still dealing with family drama here. Such a trigger to poor food choices. So wonderful to have my friends here, who care.

DD & DGS left after dinner last night to return to Houston. It was a nice visit. Busy with laundry today. Boring. Just wanted to say, "Hi" to everyone.

Still trying to figure out this new site. Can't find my profile to try to select a permanent font size, color, size. Oh well......I haven't really tried yet. DD & DGS will leave to return to Houston this afternoon. Enjoyed their visit. Sandi - Water aerobics will be my exercise choice until I'm back in the swing. Then I'll hire a trainer again (had one for two years, twice a week before knee replacement). At 67, there will be no running or marathons like you are doing - very proud of you, by the way. Time for me to take a shower and get started. Joyce

Scale shows still 31 lbs. lost and staying off since June. Yippee. Once exercising begins, I expect to move toward goal. Arlene - daughter and GS are here from Houston. Will share how cold it is there. About the same as here in K.C. Life is so different with the band. Now instead of how much can I eat, it is what will stay down and how can I be sure to get the protein in. I'm bruising easily again, which has always been a sign of insufficient nutrients for me. Showed the doctor, & he seemed uninterested and unconcerned. Oh well. Before band I took up to 15 supplements per day - recommended by a bio-chemist nutritionist after a complete blood profile. Now I don't take them. (Won't go thru the band) Janet - have a great time in Mexico with family. Apples - enjoy decorating your home. With our Jewish household, that's another thing I don't do - like cooking. Tx - Glad you survived your first "banded" holiday - it was my first too. What a loving husband to shop on black Friday. Yippee - one holiday past with no weight gain.

Lovely Thanksgiving dinner at J. Gilberts restaurant with 18 guests. Great service and food and NO DISHES. Time to enjoy the family and friends. Focus was on the conversation and NOT THE FOOD. Life is quite different without food being the focus and how much I could stuff in my face. Great to have NO FAMILY DRAMA - only guests who enjoyed being together. Love to all of you. Joyce