My Blessings........

Greetings All! I must be slipping I did not realize that I had not posted hardly at all in the past couple of weeks! It truly must be the old age or blonde thing! lol I am doing great! I am down 96 pounds as of this morning and am fast approaching my first 100 pounds gone! I feel wonderful and at times I have to remind myself that I have really had this surgery as it is gettng to feel like I am quite normal again. I still struggle with meats so I tend to stay away from them. I have tried to incorporate more regular foods in my diet as so many of the sugar free ones contain aspertame which I am allergic to. It is a challange at times adjusting to the foods but all in all I seem to be doing well. It seem like it took forever going thru the 65 pound to 75 pounds area......from the 80 to 90"s just was a blur it went so fast. The 90's seem a little slower but I feel strong in the knowledge that I will get there. Some of my clothes have been just hanging on me! And some of the ones I have bought after surgery are too big already...that feels Fantastic! This journey has been such a blessing and Joy in my life and I am so thankful that this is the path I have taken. Today I am gong out of town to be with my parents attending a funeral of a very dear man. He was our pastor and very close to our family. He was the most precious soul I have ever known. I know he is in heaven now and I told my mom that for sure now my husband who passed in 2000 knows the scoop on me....that I remarried a wonderful man 3 years ago and now I am getting skinny! lol Rosie always loved me big so I am sure he would have had issues with me losing this weight! My daughter Ashley is going with me today and I know it will be a tough day on us. We plan to visit Rosie's grave and place flowers on it for him. I still have tears for him and I always will....when you have been so blessed with wonderful people in your life and you loose them, your tears validate that you had something so wonderful in your life. I have truly been blessed and looking back over the chapters in my life, I know that God has given me a beautiful life to live. I realize I may have some explaining to do in heaven about my having this surgery to Rosie but for all the improved qualitites of life that this has given me I know he would understand. And really...for a 50 year old woman...I am looking pretty darn good! Keep Blooming Everyone! Hugs! Marianne

Marianne it is good to hear from you. I missed you at the clothing exchange Saturday. Was looking forward to seeing the new you. We all have been very blessed to have this surgery and have all the good healthy benefits that go along with it. It is good to count our blessings and not take them for granted. I too am off work this afternoon for a funeral. My aunt passed away Monday morning. She is being buried in the same grave yard as my grandma and grandpa and my father. It will be hard but He will see us through. Post when you can and let us know how you are doing. Blessings, Connie 357/191/160