Hello Everyone!

Well I know I have been MIA for a while just thought I would check in and see how things have been. I have lost 130lb and holding, dont think I have lost any weight in the last six months. I am attempting to get my tummy tuck/hyernia surgery but I am playing the insurance game now. I have to wait until I am 18 months out, so from now till Nov. I have to go into the docs document my rashes, weight stablization, etc. and hope my hyernia doesnt explode before I am eligible! I think its crazy the hoops you need to jump through, but thats insurance for ya. I find I can eat alot more than I think I should, I had a EGD last month and they injected my stoma to shrink it some. My doc says they may be able to lengthen the leg between my new stomach and my old stomach when they do the tt/hyernia surgery. I am still almost 100lbs from the chart goal weights and 60lbs from my docs goal weight, I find that very frustrating. On a positive note I can jog a mile now, I started with just jogging one house and walking the rest, then every day I added a house. Before you knew it I was jogging a mile without stopping. I would have never thought this possible before. My daughter has moved back home with me and she has just joined the equestrian team at school. I am glad to have her back in riding, I think its good for her. So what is going on with everyone else, I know I have missed so much! Stef, just have to say your wedding pictures are beautiful, looks like you had a great time! Cary

Cary! I'm so glad to hear from you! You look marvelous! Congrats on running a mile! I'm so proud of you! I, too, have been stable for about the past 6 months, although I'm pretty much done, anyway. I've got 5-10 pounds I'd LIKE to lose but it's more of a "just because" thing for me, I think. I have days where I feel like I'm eating everything in the world, and others where I feel like I've done pretty well. Had a few issues with blood sugar, and working through a few other issues like some numbness in my foot, some cycle problems, but all in all, I feel great! I'm scheduled for a TT and augmentation in December - just about 100 days from now. Unfortunately, the insurance won't cover any of it - I'm self paying... A lot of money, and a lot of guilt associated with it, but something I feel like I need to do complete the journey, yannow? Please don't be such a stranger - we've missed you!

Cary - I thought you had fallen off the face of the earth! I was so sad that Jen didn't have her party this summer. I miss seeing everyone!!! It's nuts this insurance game crap that we have to go through!!! Been there done that. Is it your insurance that says you have to be 18 mths out?? That's crazy. I was 11 mths out when I had mine, but I was very near goal and my weight had been stable. Basically my hernia couldn't wait anymore and somehow my surgeon got it approved. Now I'm almost five months post op and geeeezzzeee - I'm still hurting. From the belly button down is soooooo very TIGHT!!!!! Just rolling over in bed hurts. I'm still faithfully wearing my binder thing too. Yesterday I took it off to wash, OMG**** was only off for about three hours, and I was swollen WAY UP!!!! They say that it takes 9 months for a tt to completel heal - and they mean it!!!!! I'm going back to college in three weeks. I'm taking four online classes this fall. I'm excited about it!!! We did a whole lot of nothing this summer. It's been nice!! But I'm looking forward to the "routine" that school brings our house. The kids are eager to go back to school Tuesday. We're spending our Labor Day weekend just putzing around the house. We've got a burn pile that needs doing, so we'll probably have a nice bon fire tonight. Keep in touch girl!!!! Laurie

Hi Cary.... your new pic looks great, too! Thank you for your kind remarks!!!! I hope your insurance approves you for hernia/tt...good luck!!! Take care, Hugs, Stef

Hey baby cakes! Great to see you...You look great! Glad to hear that your babe is back home...how is the love life, mine is still a joke... Talk to you later Aliya