((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Holly)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) Mega hugs to you Holly - well not too hard as I don't want to cause more pain. I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad to hear from you. You have been in my thoughts each time I come on the May board, wondering how it has been for you. How awful for you :o( Sounds like it has been an absolute nightmare. And to think you are going to go through it all again.......... How have the family been taking it? I hope it hasn't upset the children too much since they have other issues they are already dealing with. Glad to have you back around.

I would love to! I really need some help right now - band not at restriction.. and can not get to the doctor for awhile... and have gained 10 pounds since July. Arghh... I know I can lose more - I just need to control my old habits! (easier said than done!) So I would like to get back to around 160 by our 2nd anniversary! I could use all the help and support I can get! LOL ~Starr~

WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's great news Karen. I have been thinking alot about you and your situation. So glad it has worked out. Now you've got the hard work ahead of you raising 2 children!! I'm sure it will be easier for you to control your eating now that the family is sorted. If you are anything like me I can only concentrate on it when other stuff in my life is sorted. I know it shouldn't be like that, but Good luck on the 5 day plan. Let us know how it is going.

I am back, I thought that I posted here earlier but I guess it didn't go through. The surgery was brutal. The recovery was brutal and the rehab has been, nothing less than brutal. It is a good thing that I am a strong person. I think that I lost myself there for a little while (due to pain). I hated the hospital, I had to go to Vancouver for it (a couple of hours away across a ferry) to a small teaching hospital that has been doing a ton of knee and hip replacements, so you would think that they would know what they were doing, but I had an incomplete spinal and woke up crying (and it took 3 hours to get the pain under control because I was basically under with only IV sedation) and there were nurses who withheld pain meds the day after (not sure of the reason, maybe they just didn't like me?). I have been getting back on track and my new knee is feeling much better, I am walking with a cane but often forget it in another room and have to go looking for it... I will be doing this all again on March 3... I hope that I can remain strong enough to do it. It feels like I am standing in front of a racing bus, knowing it will hit me, and hoping that it won't hurt too much... Thanks for thinking of me Ruth Holly

I have spent the last month in a lot of pain because I am getting total knee replacements. The thing that has kept me sane through all of this is that I am going to be able to go and dance when it is all done, no more obesity, no more arthritic knees... dance dance dance... It is good to see that it can happen!