T.G.I.F. WHATS HAPPENING.

Good morning everyone. Well I am awake again at 3 am. This seems to be my normal pattern lately. Go to bed about 10 or 11 wake up at 2 or 3 up till about 5 go back to bed and sleep another hour and up for the day. Weird huh? What has everyone got planned for the weekend? Anything special? Hubby got home yesterday about 30 minutes before it started raining. And we got about an inch or so. That was good watering isn't needed now. My flowers are getting their big growth spurt lately. The elephant ears lining the pathways on each side of the house are really growing and the cannas are starting to bloom all their pretty colors. The hibiscus is starting to bloom and they are getting so very big. I am going to have to move a couple of plants this fall they are taking up way too much room in the one garden they are in. I took three of them out last fall and put them up one side of the driveway but have room to spare on the other side. Colette: you are a busy lady. Glad that the scales are going down again for you. I cant wait until I have lost that much. Wow. You are an inspiration. Elizabeth: loved the picture of your Flinn. He is a pretty big boy isn't he? Yes my husband and I have decided that we will probably wait until late this fall after I have surgery or into the winter, if we have a winter like last year to start working on our pond for the front yard. Last year was so mild that we did a lot of work outside in the yard. Have you decided if you are going to come to the Taney county fair this year? Melissa: well how did you like the vanilla ice cream flavored protein shake? Were you saying that you did find someone closer to Joplin that sold the protein or what? Craig said up where he lives that they sell it at Wal-Greens. So that is another option for people to look at. Did you all get rain over at your place yesterday? Sky: your trip to Maryland sounds good. Love hearing the ocean sounds. I have that on my sound machine and go to sleep to it quite often. Have fun and take you a small cooler to keep your stuff handy for you. Don't forget to drink lots of water and protein first. I'm like Colette you need to get a picture up on the screen soon. Marcie S: welcome to our board. This is a great place to introduce yourself. Hop right in and let us know all about you. At the top of the page on here there is a tab called weight loss click on that and it has a lot of listings on it. One is about all the different procedures that can be done. As Brenda said one of the first steps is to go to the next seminar that Dr. Hornbostel gives. You can find out when that is by calling their office. Talk to Dena Neil she can tell you if they have dealt with your insurance before. Again welcome to our board and hope you come back again. Brenda: another one that don't sleep well? Well welcome to my world. Yes I like the fall too but is really hard to say it is my favorite season. I love them all for different reasons. I love the spring because it is like a new beginning, fresh, clean, newborn. The summer naturally because I am so passionate about my gardening and I couldn't have the flowers I have if it wasn't for the hot, sunny days of summer. Fall is wonderful like you said. The crisp weather. The smell of leaves burning as they are raked up again and again. And winter. I love the cold weather, and the sun the way it shines really special on a cold crisp day. Snow oh so pretty. Nothing is quite as pretty as fresh snow early in the morning before anyone or anything has walked on it. With the sun coming up and its piled high on everything, tree limbs, houses, the dead plants in the garden that you left for the birds to have something to eat. So I don't know if I could really pick my favorite season. I am so thankful that I live here in the Ozarks and we are able to experience all four seasons. Even if they sometimes get extreme if it still, in my opinion the best place on earth to live. Well enough of my going on and on. Have a great day everyone. I now have 51 days till surgery. Wow is going by slow at times and other times it speeds by. Love you all Jan

Hi all, We're leaving this evening for Montgomery City down by St. Louis and staying at the Kan-do Campground for the weekend. We have some friends coming to see us Saturday evening for dinner and lots of talking! My DH has to work the next 2 weekends so there'll be no camping for us until the middle of July. My brother is going to Columbia next Tuesday to have a test on his heart. They found 2 arteries that are blocked in the back, lower bottom of his heart. They are going to run a thing up into his heart and possibly put a stent in both arteries to help the blood flow. He says he'll be a new man! Please keep him in your prayers. Gotta go get my driver's license renewed today. With the new requirements, you have to bring your certified birth certificate, your old driver's license, and something that has your address on it--like an up-to-date voter's card or an electric bill, telephone bill, bank statement, etc. I got my stuff all together--of course, they'll decide that something is wrong and I'll have to go back Hope you all have a great weekend. It's really supposed to be nice. God bless you all... Linda PS Only 47 days till surgery!

Jan you must have the most beautiful yard. I loved seeing the pic's of all your flowers. I am thinking about trying a veg. Garden next year. I used to love to grow my own food. But it has been a long time. Linda I have said a prayer for your brother. I hope you have a fun trip. Be careful and have a wonderful time. Melissa sorry you are so sore. As for the lose tooth you just pull it with a paper towel or something so your fingers don't slip off the tooth and then you get to play tooth fairy. Have fun and good luck. Sherr welcome to the board and don't stress so bad. If you pray and it is in God's will it will work out. I will keep you in my prayers. Just know that the surgery is a tool not a quick fix to the weight problem. I am sure you have heard that before but it is so true. Barb I know what you mean about the energy. I have been doing laundry and putting everything up. I even got out all the extra quilts and washed all them up cause I know we are having company in August. LOL Nothing like getting ready ahead of time huh? David I am looking forward to the pic's of the puppies. Benny I have been having a hard time getting to the site the last couple of days too. I think they are having problems. I hope you are feeling lots better. Craig sounds like you are going to have a good time with your friend. I hope it is all you are hoping for and more. Sheila good luck on your appointment on Tuesday. Let us know how it goes. And for everyone else how are you all doing? Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. May The Lord bless and keep you May His face shine upon you And be gracious and give you peace Sky

Sky, thank you for such a sweet post. I think my intensity from my corporate sales exec. days still comes out sometimes :D I am just in a lot of pain (((like most here I am sure))) and I know my quality of life would be a LOT better if I could become lighter than the person I am now. So the thought of less pain, makes me anxious :) Have a great weekend! Sherr

Good Morning Family Do any of you get the rain yesterday that passed thro here?? I got drenched several times yesterday. It would start letting up and the minute I would get out of the car or head towards my car it would POUR down rain. I looked like a drowned rat running around yesterday. But got all my running done. Found some pretty good deals on Fireworks also. Came home ate some lunch and after the sky cleared up I went out to the pool for awhile. I am totally sore today. I can feel it in my arms and across my chest. I believe today is just going to be a stay at home day. DH didnt get to sleep until after 3am. He leg was hurting him to bad to sleep. My nephew has a tooth that is loose and it is hurting him. DH is going to Wal Mart to get him some oralgel or something like that. If it keep up I might have to make a mad dash to Arkansas to take him home. I hope you all have a good day. Any plans for this weekend?? Looks like were going to have nice weather. Jan: I tried the Vanilla Ice Cream DH loved it. I thought it was a little plain so I am going to add a capful of SF Da Vanchii sryup to it to spice it up. Will post how it turns out. Love ya Melissa

Hello fellow Missourians! I am a newbie....I have tried to read everything before coming to you guys and asking silly questions. I live in the Southern Most area of Missouri...and by judging from posts it appears > I am ever able to get a WLS proceedure, I will be driving quite some distance. I am about 3.5 hours south of St. Louis. Well here's my recap: 37, just became perm. disabled, have 22 months until I can get Medicare. I receive Social Sec. Disability...and apparently to have any other medical coverage I have a spend down amount of $700 a month :-o I still can't understand how they came up with that one. Even on a strick budget, I lost 80% of my usual income when I just couldn't work anymore, and I barely have any money left over each month. Do you guys have any inspiration, advice, help...thoughts? I am sure each of you know this, but I must spend $700 EACH MONTH out of my pocket, before any medical assistance kicks in. It looks like it takes many months from the time one starts the process until the proceedure.... :-( Thanks for helping a newbie :)

Discouraged now...found out the St. Louis facilty will not accept my medical coverage. I don't know if they accept Medicare, but I am not even eligible for that for 22 more months :( The lady that emailed me, said they do accept medicaid at the Columbia faclity, but that is 5.5 hours from me, and I wouldn't have anyone able to take me that far. :( I am sooo bummed... :( S

Sherr: I know what you mean by far because I live about 40 miles north of Poplar Bluff and I'm seeing Dr. Hornbostal at Sedalia, it's about a 6 hour drive for us because we have to stop and let me stretch and walk around a little bit so I don't get stoved up. I guess you already know that Medicare will only pay for the WLS if the facility is a "Center of Excellence" which Dr. Hornbostal and Bothwell Hospital are now, and as for as I know they are the only one in MO. That is why I didn't go to St. Louis, maybe by the time you get your Medicare there will be a place in St. Louis that has became a COE. Driving that far is a small sacrifice for me to get the big pay off of weight loss.

Sherr I sent you a message. I hope the information helps you out!!! Take Care Melissa

Melissa R., Thank you Girlfriend!!! I replied back to you.... :) Does ANYONE know of another Surgeon & Facility that would accept my Missouri medicaid? I can only find the Columbia Location.... and it's toooo far...I wouldn't have anyone able to take my.... James Stephen Scott M.D. One Hospital Drive Columbia, MO 65212 Thank you Sherr Bootheel of Missouri