Thanks so much, Tiff! Hugs back at ya!

Thanks, Donna! Yes, it felt wonderful. I could hold my head up high and I felt like I had every right to be there!

HEY AIME, I'M SO GLAD TO SEE THAT THE BABY HAS BEEN MOVED TO A PEDS HOSP. THAT MEANS HE'S PROGRESSING, GROWING AND DOING WELL, OTHER WISE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TRANSFERED HIM. YOU'D BE SUPPRISED HOW MUCH TLC ACCOUNTS FOR INCREASING THE HEALING PROCESS. WE'VE HAD "BOARDER BABIES" W/ US AND HAVE FOUND THAT THEY DEVELOP, THRIVE AND RESPOND SO MUCH BETTER WHEN WE CARRY THEM AROUND AND SHOWER THEM W/ LOVE AS OPPOSED TO LEAVING THEM IN THEIR BASSINETS EXCEPT FOR FEEDINGS, CHANGING AND BATHING. EVERY ONE CRAVES ATTENTION DISPITE THEIR AGE AND SIZE. I'M SO SORRY THAT "N" IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. THE CONDITION SHE HAS IS A LIFE LONG ONE AND ONE THAT CAN BE REALLY FRUSTRATING TO THE PATIENT AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE BEST MEDICINE FOR HER IS THIS BABY, YOUR SUPPORT AND LOVE. I HOPE SHE'S FOLLOWING DOCTORS ORDERS FAITHFULLY, STICK W/ THE LASIX, DECREASE SODIUM INTAKE, IF SHE EATS CANED VEGGIES SHE NEEDS TO RINSE THEM AS THEY TEND TO BE HIGH IN SODIUM, etc . . . I ALSO LOVE SOUPS AND STEWS. BUT I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING THE SOUPS INTO MY MOUTH LATELY. FIRST, PUT THE BOWL IN THE MICROWAVE, UPON TAKING THE BOWL OUT IT SLIPED AND 3/4 OF THE CONTENTS SPILLED OUT ALL OVER THE COUNTER, UNDER THE MICROWAVE AND ONTO THE FLOOR, CLEAN UP ON ASILE 1. TRIED ANOTHER CAN, DROPED THIS ONE ON THE FLOOR, THE TOP POPPED OPEN, YEP, ANOTHER SPILL AND ANOTHER CLEAN UP, THIS TIME ON ASILE 2. GUESS WHAT, DIDN'T TRY FOR A THIRD ATTEMPT, HAD SOME BOILED SHRIMP INSTEAD. CHEESE? DID YOU SAY CHEESE? CAN YOU SAY CONSTIPATION? I SWITCH BETWEEN THOSE BABYBELS, 2% EXTRA SHARP AND MONTERAY JACK. I JUST TRIED AND LOVE LIGHT LAUGHING COW GARLIC AND HERB SOFT CHEESE. I EAT IT ON MATZOS. LIKE THESE BETTER THAT WHEAT THINS OR TRISCUITS. KEEP IN TOUCH AND LET ME AND EVERYONE ELSE KNOW HOW "N" AND THE BABY IS DOING. DONNA, SFY

OMG, what a wonderful experience!!! I fit comfortably into the seat and had about 8 inches of seatbelt left to spare!! And had quite a bit of space between me and the tray table too! I felt tiny! Yes, I am a "normal" sized person! Wow! And after a full day of travel and lugging bags and all that, I still went out and walked around the French Quarter for a few miles. Thanks for the support! Life is good!! Lisa

Hi Donna! I eat on small plates now - my dessert or salad plates. That helps a lot, since it looks like more food on those smaller plates! I'm fooling my brain that way. I still do the "proteins first" rule for my eating. Breakfast is often a protein shake, or an egg, or some other protein source. (I have to work on getting in enough protein.) Lunch is often a small salad with protein toppings, or an open-faced sandwich on high fiber bread, or low-fat string cheese and some snack vegetables. Dinner is a lean protein and a vegetable. Sometimes a carb source if I have room after the protein. On occasion, I have a dessert or some refined carbs. I don't beat myself up over them. I've had a lifetime of making myself guilty. My surgery still has me pretty restricted, so I can't eat much -- and I'm trying hard not to stretch out my little stomach so I can keep it that way. I think we will all have challenges in the years to come, and I'm appreciating the support we can give each other as we face them together.