SUPPORT GET TOGETHER PLANNING TIME

Since there are a handful of us interested in having a get together for us pre and post ops, those interested please reply with when would be a good day of the week for you, and offer up some suggestions of places to go that might be fun for us. I'll start. Saturdays or Sunday evenings are good for me because I can leave the kiddo with hubby. Some fun places to go would be... Dave & Busters Hale Koa Hotel Pool (the military folks and sponsor people in) Beach or Beach park pic nic or just sit and talk SHOPPING! Shopping is always fun. The gym. (For those military folks that have free access) Plan a work out day and encourage each other/Hold each other accountable. Any other suggestions are welcome. Lets get this support group kicked off instead of sitting around talking about it! Steffie

Anytime is good for me I don't work, divorced and kids are grown. That sounds sad but what a way to start my new life. I have nothing holding me back.

Weekends work best for me. Friday evenings are ok too, as long as I don't have my scrapbooking class, which varies once a month. Keep me update to date (via email if possible), I rarely check the Hawaii OH messageboard. I'm still going through the process to get approval for WLS at Queens, so it might be nice to mingle with others who are going through/went through the process already.

Pretty much anyday works for me. If it can't be a family/kiddo involved thing, then it would probably have to be a weekend day.....but, I know my hubs is going to be gone A LOT this spring, and once summer hits, he'll be gone then too.....so, maybe some family get togethers could work too?? Especially if it is something like going to the beach or the pool....I would be up for that, and I know my hubs and son would. *For us Mommies, maybe we could meet once a week for walks with the kiddos?? I know mine is still in a stroller, and I am a stay at home Mom, so any time during the week works.

Sure Jess You and I can do that with our fams but I am not sure of the rest of the ladies would be up for it. I know our hubs will be deploying so we know the deal with that and I definately know how it is being a stay at home mom since I did it for almost 4 years straight. We will work it out. And by the way. You are welcome to come over any day you want. You don't have to sit at home all day alone. Come to my house! next week my husband will be leave for Big island for PTA training so I will be all alone. Steffie

Hi Stephanie, as a local group formed on Yahoo we had one get together at Keehi Lagoon, but it sure is time for another one. Actually any picnic at a park is nice and I would gladly attend. Another suggestion I had was the Mongolian Barbecue at Hickam Officer's Club. I think it is perfect for us because you select your own veggies and meat to stir fry. You pay by the weight of your bowl, so you only pay for what you want to eat. But most of all because it is a wonderful place to sit and talk story, and watch the sunset over the water. Only catch is that military people have to sponsor us non-military onto the base. They would also have to make the reservation. After that it is fine. When you pay for your meal they add on a $3.00 service fee for non club members, but it is still very reasonable. Before my surgery when I ate a lot, my meal was about $10.00. I believe the Mongolian Barbecue is on Thursday evenings. Aloha, Paula

LOL...I still think some of the hubbies might need support through this too!! I hear the divorce rate is REALLY high after WLS, so you have to assume the non-WLS spouse is also going through a lot....so, I think some things where spouses can be included would be a good idea. LOL, now that being said, my hubby is extremely shy, and it would take him a while to open up in any support group setting--I too am the same way....but, I think it would be beneficial to them as well as to us. Also maybe to people who have kids, especially older kids...I myself have a really little guy, but some of you might have older kids with a LOT of questions. I know in Virginia before we moved out here they were really big on having the whole family involved. LOL, I am up for anything, because I know once my hubs is deployed all I'll have is whomever I meet from here!! And...Stephanie, I'll give you a call, and come keep you company next week!! Thanks for the offer!!

Hi Everyone, I know we have more than this here on this board....we really need to come together in Hawaii and actually get together and get things rollin... We do have a support online group at Yahoo! and it chats with alot of locals here and it would be great to have a get together and share stories and lives....new lives!! Dee 7/24/02 LAP RNY