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Thanks, Tracy...no, it's not the medication. I've only been taking it a few days and it's not known to have weight gain/loss issues. Neither is the anti-depressant I'm taking. Prozak is the one that is notorius for weight stalls; I don't take that. It's just my slow metabolism! Thankfully I have my old LC journal still online and this is just my pattern: stall for weeks, lose a few pounds, stall for weeks, lose a few pounds...etc. I can't believe how you are just losing like a maniac now!! You're a FILL believer now, arent you?!

WOW! Everyone is just doing so great!!! I'm so proud of all of you, and I have to admit...a little bit jealous. Judy - I hope you catch this before you leave...I know you've been looking forward to this trip for a long time! I know ya'll will have a wonderful time...enjoy every minute and recognize all of the reasons to celebrate! I am facing quite a challenge here in the next few weeks. And I gotta let you all know what's going on so that you can help me when I start whining!! That's your job, right? :car: Ok, so here's the story: Back in the fall of 2003 I quit smoking, started menopause and fell off the low-carb wagon. Triple Whammy DeLuxe. I went from 158-200# in about 18 months. I was pretty frantic but nothing I did helped with the weight. At some point my screwed up, desperate brain decided it would be OK to start smoking again to help control my weight....so I ruined my quit. It did help slow down my weight gain...but now, of course, I have to deal with quitting again. I've been taking Chantix (a new drug to help you quit) and it's working pretty well. Today is my first day without cigarettes and so far, so good. The REASON I mention all this stupid stuff is that I kind of expect over the next few weeks to be a tad bit cranky, maybe a little depressed, I'll probably even have MORE of a struggle losing weight, and might even gain! I'm going to try real hard to keep it under control and just DO what I need to DO, but I don't know if I have it in me without the crutch of cigarettes. We'll see. So, wish me luck on all fronts!! Ultimately I'm really hoping that with improved lung capacity I can kick up my cardio workouts...but that'll just help me 'break even' metabolically. It could be a rough ride. <sign> :help:

Hi Micki. Your honesty will serve you well on the next leg of your journey. So many of us get stuck, and digging out of old behaviors we thought we had conquered can be disheartening. They say with alcoholics, one of the goals is to fall off the wagon for shorter periods of time each time. For us, when old behaviors crop back up, we shouldn't be surprised. We spent a lot of years cementing them into our brains. The nice thing about the band is that it will essentially allow you to be a laggard for awhile without that rapid weight gain we USED to get when we screwed up. Catch your breath for however long you need to, and when you are ready, get back to work. List the basics of living with the band, and figure out what you want to tackle first. Keep a log of your calories for a few days and see what bad stuff has snuck back in. This is all about how we learn to live permanently with new behaviors, and sometimes it's hard work. Don't kick yourself. It's just all part of it for some of us. I had a stretched pouch. I went in for a fill and was already full, but she could see from the fluoroscope pics that my pouch was bigger. She says it happens from things we do wrong, or even from doing nothing wrong. I'm very restricted in the morning, so even liquids in the morning could take too long to go through and stretch the pouch as they sit there. Many people then get a complete unfill or a partial unfill and let the stoma rest. With mine, I went back on liquids for 3 days and I was good as new. I also started sipping rather than guzzling my Breakfast. I guess the big deal with stretching is that if you try to live with too tight a restriction for a long time and with the subsequent stretching, you can get into a more chronic problem. I know when she told me I had a stretched pouch, I thought the world as I knew it had ended, and it turned out to be an easy fix and a cautionary tale. I keep a list of the rules of living as a bandster taped on my refrigerator, and I'm always finding something I need to do better, or that I just didn't do for awhile. Congratulations on your journey so far! Oh, and I also found out that for me, I am the worlds best at talking myself out of going to the gym. But I put Tony Horton's 30 minute routines on my portable CD, turn the sound off and turn the TV on, and I watch 1/2 hour of TV while I do his worout routine, and it's over before I know it. I find that I'm not going to be a major athlete in my life, so I need to have lots of different strategies for getting in exercise. I also found that sitting and watching TV is my worst emeny, so exercising in order to give myself permission to watch seems to work.... I hope you get lots of responses to this thread. I'll be interested to see what others are doing.

Hi All, it's been raining here for 2 days. We need the rain. Before surgery we planted some grass to fill in the bare spots in the yard and we have been having to water them for weeks. Now we are getting a good soaking rain. I feel sorry for DH, he has to work out in it but at least it's not cold and raining. I am feeling a little better each day. I am stull very swollen, but have no weight gain ????? Maybe I will be a few pounds lighter when this is all over. We ate at Cracker Barrel today, I had turkey sausage and a biscuit....yum! With my band empty I can have a bit of bread, that's nice. I have never been a bread junkie, but sometimes I miss it. My mom and dad came over and we played dominoes until almost midnight last night, but it was welcome company, Dave was at work and they left about 20 mins before he came home. I'm still not sleeping very well, and I plan on talking to the doctor about that on tuesday. Maybe hormones will help, if not sleeping pills are going to be needed. I am sooooo tired, I know that is also from the surgery, but I am 20 days out and still need naps like a baby. I can't sleep more then a few hours at a time. It stinks. I listed a bunch of stuff on Ebay this week, spending money for Disney! WooHoo! My mom and I are going to hit the outlets while we are there. I'll check in later. ~Mandy

Hi all, I'm 5' tall and went from 125pds to 198. The weight gain began 5 years ago during a nasty divorce. I developed health problems from the added weight--High Blood Pressure, severe back problems, gout, high triglacides. I have been able to lose 10pds over this last year. My BMI is 36.7. I'm on 4 medicines for the high blood pressure alone and medicines for the other problems. I take 2 antidepressents and Seroquil 300mg for bipolar 1 and PTSD. All of these medicines are a major factor in the weight gain. I heard about lapband several weeks ago and was shocked that I could have it done at 36.7 BMI, because of my medical conditions. My doc said absolutely and says he will do whatever he can to help me get my insurance to OK it. So, now I begin the adventure of getting a lapband. PS, my insurance sucks when it comes to approvals.:help:

Stef and bcrazy, How many brussel sprouts and broccoli spears can you eat with your protein? 2 or 3? I have a problem fitting in vegies and I love them, because if you eat 4 oz of protein that is the amount you are to stop at? It is all hard balancing it out. the same with fruit. pippz thanks for the added info on the fill and the air pushing it out. I will be curious to see when I go next Friday for my second fill how much is really in there. I to have a hard to find port, and they won't be using a flouro this time either, it will be in the office. It should be an experience! Rhonda, loved your Dog story!! My dog has done that to my dh several times, and I LOL when it happens. I keep telling him not to leave it on the counter close in his reach... it is not good but funny. Your diet is a lot of food and not sure with the band you can fit it all in, but like you said you can modify. And it is what works for you!! stef Hang in there with the weight gain. It was less than a pound, but i know how frustrating. You are exercising a lot which sometimes builds muscle for a short weight gain to turn around and lose more! At least that is what they told me when I was pi--- this happened to me!

Hi to ALL! My name is Marisa I'm 48 years old, I'm having lap band surgery on SEPT 10th At Unity hospital in Fridley MN. My Doc is Jeff Baker. My weight gain started 17 years ago when I had 4 children close together. I had gained over 50 lbs with the first pregnancy and never returned to baseline again. My weight in 2006-2007 was 250lbs @ 5'3".My health was declining rapidly. I couldn't walk up a flight stairs without being short of breath and strength. I attended an informational meeting and felt moved to tears-- that this procedure was a definite God-Sed. I started the long application process in January, I visited a dietitian for 3 months. My weight began dropping just by beginning to eat small pieces and increasing my activity a bit. Gradually I've lost 24 lbs. I was shocked to find how satisfied small portions can be. I've been weaning myself off breads so that It won't be a total shock ... I've decided I can live without the soft breads and possibly rice and pasta cause there's alot of other choices out there. I'm excited to be joining up with the September group of Lap Banders I'll be praying all our surgeries go well!

Thanks guys for all your kind words. I really don't think I was having the "last meal" mind set. I was just living the life that got me this way and gearing up for the changes after surgery. I feel much better now. I walked, had some slimfast and a Nap! (I think the nap was most helpful) I just hate losing the time. The dental office I work for is going to our confrence in South Beach Miami this November, and I wanna be able to wear something slightly stylish and keep up with my skinny coworkers. I was just in shock this morning. But it may be for the best now. I'm gonna get better mentally prepared this way having to do the liquids before hand. Why didn't he require it in the first place????? He said he had to cancel 5 surgeries this week because of weight gain, and was mad at his staff because of it. I guess HE SHOULD BE MORE CLEAR IN HIS INSTRUCTIONS. How about a good old hand out or something? He didn't even respond when I told him about the unusual stress level I have had lately. But he's supposed to be the best in the area, so I guess bedside manor will have to suffer. I'm trying to get rid of my "poopy pants". All your comments have helped. Thanks Nana and Julie!

I was raised on healthy food and skim milk. I never tasted soda until I was in my late teens because when I wasn't at home I was in boarding school, another junk food-free zone. When I finally did try it I was really shocked; I thought it tasted horrible. This proved lucky. I never acquired the addiction to the stuff that so many people seem to have. I was also really late having my first Big Mac experience. I was 35 when I ate my first Big Mac and fries. Now, those I enjoyed. I am inclined to believe that when parents raise their kids on good food the kids will often carry on with this style of eating in adulthood. Both of my brothers along with myself continued to prefer quality food as adults. One of them went on to become a superb cook. Two of us had problems with weight because we were so very fond of what was on our plates and because our genetics favoured weight gain. (This is why I love my band.) I suspect that sometimes children are not properly fed because their parents run out of time and energy by the end of the day, possibly because they themselves are not eating healthily. It takes time and good organisational skills to make good food for dinner and to pack good lunches for the kids to take to school. I also suspect that most people know very little about food and nutrition. I have always preferred good food but I have learned a helluva lot since being banded. This is because I now scrutinise the nutritional content list on all prepared foods. This is a real learning experience and often not in a reassuring way. One of the things that I have learned is that most vegetable soups and pasta sauces are pretty much devoid of vita C as well as just about every other nutrient. :omg: Learning how to eat properly is a challenge. I think that this should be taught in schools but more importantly, no junk food should ever be available in a school cafeteria. I think that all parents should lobby their local school boards about this.

Thank you for writing about your son. Certainly he has had a rough time and of course you yourself have been sharing in his troubles. It strikes me that your child is now stuck in a place where he has a number of factors working against him with respect to weight control. He has severe breathing issues and this will interfere with his level of physical activity. He is also on a number of drugs which cause weight gain. (I was briefly put on an antipsychotic and watched, with horror, my weight skyrocket.) It also seems that you are a bandster member because you yourself have weight issues due to the beautifully efficient metabolism, the very tool which was so useful for survival in primitive times and which, ironically, causes modern folk to end up with the problems of excess weight. This is also something which is hereditary. Your son may have inherited your metabolism along with his other hassles, the ones which lead him to suffer from weight control issues. Who knows? Certainly your child is in a very different situation from that of the young girl who has been the topic of discussion on this thread or, indeed, from the case of any pre-teen or child who is only just entering into her teen years with a weight problem that is neither hooked up with other medical issues nor a case of serious morbidity. In the case of your child his weight issues are both the cause of pre-existing medical conditions and the result of these; and your son's weight problem will seriously erode his health if this is not checked at some future point. All of my heart goes out to you and your boy. He sounds like a champ - I love the "rubber band'" request - and you sound like one, too. It certainly sounds as though the Nemours Children's Hospital will have criteria in place which ideally will assess the medical needs of the child and the maturity of the family before deciding whether the child should be banded or not. I am sure that none of us who were engaged in discussion prior to your post had no intention of dissing people such as you or your son or, for that matter, those young people who are morbidly obese. Weight issues of this nature are medical issues. We were more concerned about this particular kid who had already undergone a year of liposuction/liposculpture while she was still a preteen. Now she has hit the news again because she has been banded at the very young age of 13. The kid is nowhere near 100 lbs overweight and neither she nor her mother seem to have a firm fix on the bandster's role in responsible food behaviour. It was at this point that a couple of other bandster mums waded in to say that all good mothers do insure that their kids learn proper nutritional habits. Knowing proper nutritional habits is never a guarantee that one is going to remain slender, of course. I have superb nutritional habits. My downfall was portion control. I was a healthy fatso, eh. :heh:

The Nemours (A.I. Dupont) Children's Hospital here in Delaware is creating a Lap-Band program through their Weight Loss Clinic. I found out about this because my son is a patient there. They apparently are partnering or being funded in some way for a research study with the FDA to do lap bands on 13 year olds - that is the age group specified for them to work with. The Dietician I spoke with about this said the children do have to be at least 100 pounds overweight to be considered and there is extensive counseling and nutritional education to be involved. She brought it up to me at our last visit a few weeks ago. My son is not a candidate, though he at 8 years old has asked if he can get a "rubber band" around his stomach too so he can lose weight like mommy. He is currently about 60 pounds overweight at 4'9" and 136 pounds. I disagree with the generalization that having an overweight child is because you are a "bad" parent. I am in no way a bad parent and I have an obese child. My son's weight gain is from medication (anti-convulsants, anti-anxiety/psychotic medications, steroids and corticosteroids) and from his chronic severe health conditions. He has permanemnt damage to his lungs resulting in chronic asthma (which is also exercise-induced) and he has damage to his brain (bands, and bands of damaged tissue throughout his brain). He was a normal weight and proportionate until he was 3 years old and started on the anticonvulsants. Even with the steroids and corticosteroids his weight was maintanable and in a normal range until then - he has been on them since birth. He has been under the care of multiple doctors since his birth and I was warned about the weight he would gain because of the medications he is on and his limited ability to exercise and be active because of his severe asthma. Will he be a candidate at age 13 or more? I don't know. Would I consider it for him at that age, again, I don't know. The determination will be his physical and mental health (because of the epilepsy and brain damage he has a mood/behavior disorder) and if the benefits of the surgery would outweigh the risks. As a parent of a child in this situation, and having been banded myself, it is comforting to know that it *might* be an option for my son. I am hoping that we can continue to manage his weight through diet and exercise but that has not been working as well as we would like. His conditions are chronic and he will be on these medications for the rest of his life. Losing the weight he carries in his abdomen would absolutely help with his asthma and breathing difficulties not to mention his self confidence. Kids can be very cruel and they don't understand that he is different because he cannot help it, not by choice. He doesn't look "sick" so they, like the rest of society tends to do, just assume he has no self control and eats and eats and eats and has a weight problem. It's a difficult situation for any child to be in and whatever reason put them there, my heart goes out to all of them.

TO ALL, You are all right!!! I am a obsessive weigher!!!! LOL!!! I weigh in the morning.....I weigh after work....I weigh before bed!!! I wish I could say I would only weigh ONCE a week....but I would be lying to you guys!!! LOL!!! Lizrbit, I would blame it on that....but I have been sooooo regular that I have a hard time believing it. I usually am not.....so I always blame weight gain on that but this week I deserve a prize for that!!! LOL Laura, I am prepared for water gain....I take a diuretic every night to take care of all that water that I drink!!! Legster and Mini, I know I shouldnt weigh every day but I am crazy and obsessive about everything!!! Maybe I should throw my scales away!! I hav 3 in the house!!! See I told ya I was a little crazy!!! LOL!!! If I did that then I would be at the Walgreens at 8 am weighing on there scales....and at 9 pm!! LOL Sandra 255h/242s/206c/165g

I know DerbyGirl my toy chest is getting full! Most of what I was buying was for that 1100 mile bike I have been planning. It looks like next year before I do that. I talked to my nephew Sunday and it looks like the 100 mile Everglades trek is on for October! That will have to do, I guess. Denise, it is good to hear from you, sorry you are having to endure library p.c.s. I had a slip this is the second time. The doctor I am seeing is pretty commited to saving the band if it is possible. I threw a little fit when I realized there is a real threat of losing the band. I have decided that negativity is counterproductive, so I am focussing on excercise as well as smart/wise food choices. It would be very easy for me to say I now have no help and start going back down the path of huge weight gain. I prefer not to, so I am going to get as much exercise whenever and wherever I can. I am also restarting my food journal and tightening up on the types of foods I surround myself with. JC

Reeburgdon: I completely understand! I haven't posted in a while...I've been down. I am almost maintaining my weight...gaining losing same pounds right now and not getting anywhere. I go in for 2nd fill this Friday and am also hoping it helps with getting some restriction. I've also started a Zumba class...I love it. Only one day a week right now, but next sign-up I'll do two. I am seeing inches going away though...at least in the mirror. I need to take some measurements. And my clothes are looser. Hang in there...you're not alone.

I REALLY needed to see this thread today. I had my surgery 7/19/07, post op was 08/06/07. Between surgery and post op I'd lost 15 lbs. One week after my post op and I've GAINED 5 lbs. I was completely devastated when I got on the scale this morning. I feel like such a failure. I've been getting in ALL of my Water and most of my 70 grams of Protein, and I certainly have NOT been pigging out on garbage. I'm taking this very seriously. I'm still disappointed that I've gained weight, but am somewhat relieved to discover that I'm not alone in that. I guess I'm gonna go back to my Protein drinks and start my walking and hopefully won't step on the scales at my doc's office when I go in for my first fill on 08/20/07 and show a weight gain. I would be just too embarrassed. Thank all of you for your honesty and willingness to share all of your experiences. I really, REALLY want my band filled so that I can feel the restriction. I'm anxious for the hungries to go away, and to start losing weight again. Good luck everyone!

I just posted on another thread, then found this one. Here's what my other post said, "I was banded on July 19, lost 15 lbs from surgery to 2 1/2 week post op. I've gained back 5 lbs! I have my first fill on August 20. I'm feeling like a failure at having gained 5 lbs. Did anyone else experience this? I eat, I don't feel full EVER...could I have already stretched my pouch? I'm just really scared and ashamed that maybe I've done something wrong." After reading what y'all have posted here, I do feel a little bit better. I still am a bit concerned that I've stretched my pouch or something--or is that normal post-op paranoia? I have no restriction, have never had a PB, eat pretty much anything I want, and honestly haven't started my exercise yet. I do get all of my Water in and most of my 70 grams of Protein. I guess I just need to knuckle down and get serious. Maybe do my Protein drinks for a few days. I'm embarrassed to think I'll go in for my first fill showing a weight GAIN! Aargh! Any ideas?

Helllo alll, I am a bit depressed now, my friends are trying to talk me out of this surgery ! I am a lower BMI so they keep saying I dont need it .. "just do this or try that " ! ughgh I am getting soo frustrated, I have done everything ....lost weight gained it back plus more !! They just don't get it -- I will keep gaining and getting bigger and bigger if I don't do this. I am the heaviest I have ever been at 5'4 195 # . I don't want to go out anymore, I don't want people to see me ... In my mind this is what I need to do. I can't go on like this anymore. I understand that they're concerned because of the whole Mexico thing and complications and all but I have done soo much research. I just have to stick to what I believe and hope there are no problems !! Thank goodness for this site cuz I get encouragement here just by reading other people's experiences .. Thanks for listening all !

OK ladies, prepare to feel tall: I'm 4'11", so quit complaining, LOL! I used to be a tall 5 foot, but with the weight gain (to 203 lbs) came the "degenerative disc" back problems and I lost an inch in height. :frusty: BUT in Oct I get my band, things are gonna change! I can't wait to buy clothes I actually like. Imagine not having to hem everything you purchase. And high heels will be so much fun again!

Hi Everyone, It's been a long time since I visited the site. I could tell you that I have been busy (which is true) or that I had a new grandaughter in July (which is true) but the real reason is that I have been so down and yes, it's because of very little weight loss. Once I was allowed to eat a regular diet after the surgery, I discovered I could eat anything and that I wouldn't be like some of the folks who never needed a fill and lost a lot of weight quickly. I was bummed. So then the fills started. My first fill was 10 or 11 days ago. Actually, it was the same day as my 1 month check-up. I had a 1cc fill (4cc band) on a Tuesday. I called the office on the following Friday to let them know that instead of feeling fuller, I felt looser. She explained that they just replaced air that was in the band with fluid and I said "well fill'er up again." I went in that same day and he put in 1.4cc of fluid. Hardly worth the trip! So I called the following Tuesday to whine and I went back in today. He said he'll put in 1.6 cc of fluid. I said how about 2cc. He struted about doing the "I am man thing" so I stuck my head out the door when I heard my doc's voice and asked if I could have 2cc's PLEASE! To my surprise, my doc came in and said SURE! I watched the whole time and the doc knew I was making sure I wasn't being skimped. He called me on it, I admitted to it, he laughed! He also told me that it was OK to get frequent fills in the beginning because the goal is to use the band as a tool. So if this doesn't work, I'll call on Monday to schedule again. The truth is my weight loss is so slow, it gets me down sometimes. Then I try to remind myself that my weight gain was never this slow and I could have gained 20 pounds in 6 weeks. If it continues like this maybe I will have lost 60 lbs by Christmas. Now that's a pleasant thought. Thanks for listening. , Me:o

Anyone else gain weight for the first 2-3 days postop? I am thinking it is water retention. Is this common? Was 282 day of surgery Tues today Thurs I am 286. I know i shouldn't be stepping on the scale, but it is impossible not to be curioous.

I am pre-op but I have pcos as well. Losing weight is really hard. Now that you mention it everytime I consume carbs it's like I can feel the weight gain. Carbs and me don't mix all. I hope the lapband helps me.

I am finishing my liquid stage, during which I lost 24 pounds, today. Is it inevitable to gain weight now that I am starting to eat food? I find it hard to believe that, even with careful monitoring, that I won't gain weight initially. Any insight would be appreciated. Thank you, Bruce

Yes! You can blend almost anything down, whether or not it will be edible is anyone's guess, lol. Just adjust the texture as you progress, it can become thicker. Some ideas - because I ate sort of like what you've just listed for a few days becuase taht's what the lists said and I was passing out by day 4 and feeling simply awful. So I started eating what the family was eating, where suitable, just by mixing and blending. We had spaghetti bolognaise one night, well I took some of the bolognaise sauce and blended it with a can of crushed tomatoes to a soupy consistency. Surprisingly good. Another night we had lentil dahl, I blended that with greek yogurt. Roast dinner - lamb, roast pumpkin, peas and carrots - surprisingly good with gravy and liquid chicken stock blended to soup. I made a huge pot of vegie and lentil soup and blended it with extra chicken stock also, and by the end just blended it as it was to a thick smooth soup. It didnt affect my weight loss, I lost heaps, but I felt I remained well nourished and had begun a good schedule of breakfast, lunch and dinner with 2 smaller Snacks (maybe a yogurt or glass of V8) rather than just sipping odd liquids all over the place. No constipation, and no rebound weight gain when I started mushies. I was on mushies on Christmas day and had my christmas dinner mushed up in the blender with gravy, lol.

update: I HAVE JOINED OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS. I GOT TO THE HOME PAGE FOR MY ZONE AND READ THIS: (DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR OR WHAT!!) Knowing and Connecting Here is a story worth repeating! When I went to my first OA meeting in February 1989, I was a broken man - emotionally, spiritually, and physically. I knew I had a problem with food, but I was unable (or unwilling?) to make the connection between my problems with food and the unmanageability of my life. What I knew then was that I gained and lost huge amounts of weight through binge eating that would last weeks and months, followed by weeks and months of exercising to exhaustion and controlled starvation regimens (sometimes under medical supervision). A 50 pound weight gain for me was easy and frequent, as was the 50 pound weight loss, albeit a little less easy. Over time, the gains got bigger and the losses got smaller and I settled into a 240 pound level on my small frame (I had been as low as 130 pounds!). So I was fat and desperate. I had heard about OA from a therapist who I did not like (probably because he was telling me the truth, truth I was an addict). I went to a meeting, eventually recognized that although my addiction was to food and the physical manifestation of this was rapid weight gain and weight loss, there were many more serious consequences than weight gain and weight loss. I was an addict and an addicts life is always out of control and unmanageable. This was the beginning of a profound awareness and with abstinence has come many years of physical, emotional, and spiritual recovery. -- Anonymous

Hello all......the last couple of days have been hard....I'm sick of liquids and have been testing my chewing abilities to see if I can eat or chew something more substantial, but I then feel guilty and return to eating soup and other liquids, feeling like I'm not giving it time to heal properly. This morning I used 1/2 a banana, 1 scoop vanilla creme and a slim fast and mixed it in the bullet...wow, it was good and it has kept me full for hours!!! I think most of it is just head hunger and the fact that I'm being lazy..... My one week follow up tomorrow......keep my fingers crossed that they will allow me to move to mushies!! Forgive - sorry to hear your weight gain, but I would just put it down to water retention of your on-coming "that time of the month".....next week will be a whole new ballgame!! Phyl - Just wanted to say thanks for the heads-up on the group meeting in my area, met two new people who have been banded for a long time and hope to meet more next month!! Lynette - sounds like you love your work and they love you.....that's a great place to be. I can really "hear" the satisfaction in your posts!! Marcy - Doritos? Wow......can those really go down?