Well where the heck do I start????  How about I miss you girls soooooo much!!!!!!

Haven't been on since June/2010.....  That's when I got fired from my job yup FIRED!!!!!  I was devestated but now 7 months later...EVERYTHING HAPPEN FOR A REASON It was a blessing....  I enjoyed the whole summer off (able to collect..THANK GOD)  and be a Beach Bum... Even wore a Bikini 
  My sis decided to get knocked up and get married all in the matter of 3 months...lol  It was beautiful wedding ( I made her wedding cake) and she is due any day now with my nephew Mason.. I can't wait.....  Then in August I started Medical Assisting School and am currently doing my 160 hour externship I've only got 18 hours in so far...lol  I'm so proud of myself for going back to school and never thought I could do it but I DID!!!!   Made some great friendships in school as well....  
   Kevin and I are going strong I still fall more in love with him everyday!!!!  We have been in a BIG nightmare since Jan 4th when his 6yr old nephew/godson Ethan was Dx with Leukemia (ALL)  IT HAS BEEN SOOOO HARD FOR ALL OF THE FAMILY....  .... He is doing extremely well.... only had one very bad day,, but we are taking it one day at a time... been going to the hospital at least 5 times a week and now Skpe when we can't be there.....  The first week was just awful.. He was fine one day and then BAM he has cancer..... a week before his Dx we had a great night with him at Bass Pro Shop and he was an angel at the Coach store..lol    I j ust wish I could take all this mess away!!!  He is currenly @ Boston Children's Hospital recieving In-patient Chemotherapy....  It;s the worst place for a child to be but It's also the Best Place on earth for a child to be does that make sense????? We are truely BLESSED to live in a state that has one of the best hospital in the world....
 The first week I was soooo sad being there and then when we'd have to leave it was even worse.... Kevin's mom is taking it very very hard... But now I am my happiest when I'm there..... THOSE KIDS IN THAT HOSPITAL ARE TRULEY AMAZING AND HEROS..... As sick as they are at times they always seem to smile and have fun....  That's what it is all about :)    The Doctors say it is 80% cureable and if your to get cancer the one he has is the best one to have,,,, If that makes sense....
The family is planning a Benefit Dinner for them in April to help with finances... Ethan's mom quit both her 2 jobs and Dad is working just to keep the health insurance.. Ethan has a 4yr old sister Madelynwho is also having a hard time not having her whole family  togther and misses her mommy soo much,,,, Mommy and Daddy are taking turns coming home every night to be with her....  She has been such a good girl through al of this... but it's soo hard when she cries for her mommy....   Please Pray 4 Ethan for him to beat this terrible disease....
He has a facebook page called Prayers 4 Ethan if you want to be his friend and keep updated on his journey    
Ok for some good news!!!!!!!!   I HAVE LOST 100% OF MY EXCESS BODY WEIGHT!!!!!!  Surgery was August 5, 2009 and I went for a size 22 to a fricken 2  never in a million years did I ever think I would be a size 2.  I see my surgeon on Thursday... got lots of issues
1. Have not taken my vitamins in over 8 months... (hoping for some help from VitaLady to get me on back on track with some good vitamins)  I did email her but got no response
2. I only poop once a week if I'm lucky...lol TMI sorry I thought this was OK but I guess it's not
3. I don't eat enough in a day but I eat as much as I physically can throughout the day
4. I get the "your to thin"  "you need to eat more"  ggrrrrrr  before it was your soo pretty if you just lost a few pounds...ggggtrrrrrr never goes away does it??? lol
5. My testosterone levels no longer exsist... guess they were abnormally low.. waiting to see an Endocrinologist in March..... My labio is looooonnnngggg gggoonnneeee... Kevin and I use to be like rabbits... now nothing (me anyway)  he has been very understanding
6. I have a rotator cuff tear and can't wait to have surgery in March to get it fixed been living on Tylenol PM for months... Surgeon said a big FAT no to NSAIDS....
I think that enough... I need some help with Vits if anyone wants to help recommend what I need.....  I'll make another post with my last labs from August 2010  having trouble pasting them on here....
LOVE AND MISS YOU ALL SOOO MUCH!!!! I'm glad to be back!!!!

 

what is the 5 day pouch test?

 I was having trouble too... could take maybe 2 tiny sips of water at a time, any more and I felt kind of like you described.  I mentioned it at my 2 week appointment wiht my dietician, who surprised me by saying that a lot of people report having trouble with water.  It's dense, and can sometimes not sit too easily immediately post-op.  She suggested substituting Crystal light or 0 calorie Vitamin Water for some of my water.  I did that yesterday, and was so surprised at how much less time it took me to drink a 20oz bottle of the Vitamin Water.  

If you're peeing normally, don't worry so much.  Keep trying to meet your goal of 64 oz water each day, but know that you're not dehydrated if you pee.  And maybe try substituting something else for half your water intake.  Now I'm doing 44 oz water oz water and 20 oz of something else.

I also had Dr. Shikora@ Tufts!

When your husband picks you up from the hospital - tell him to bring a pillow for you.

I got this tip on this site:  hold a pillow up against your stomach for the ride home from the hospital.

It totally worked for me and made me feel soo much more comfortable.

We have 6 incisions and it felt like my stomach wasn't being held in.

Every bump in the road home I could feel and holding the pillow up against my stomach made me feel better - supported.

Another tip - walk as soon as possible and as much as possible right after surgery.  I walked in the PACU a few hours after surgery.  It reduces the pain from the air they use to perform the surgery.  I kept asking for pain meds but once I started walking - the pain went away 70%!

Dr. Shikora and Tufts are phenomenal.  The PACU nurses were great.  I didn't get a room until 8pm the day of surgery (my surgery was @ 7:30am)  The PACU is like a 4 star hotel.  I was able to sit in a recliner chair and it was awesome!

Hi Everyone,

There will be a meeting Sat 1/22 at the Herrick House in Beverly 10am to 11am.

Please come and join me.

Unless mother nature strikes again.

"Let's make this journey together"

Donna
(skinnycat)