WHATS HAPPENING TUESDAY

OH my Lord am I ever whipped. We spend all day out side in the 76 degree sunny day. Clearing up the stumps and burning them. Got one side of the area done , now if it doesn't rain we will do the other side tomorrow . I hope anyway. Then we can call the guy back and have him to use his bulldozer to level it all out for us. He told me that if I would show him where I was going to put my fish pond and waterfall in he would dig me a hole there for me and then I wouldn't have to dig so much. We already paid him and he said he would do all of that without charge. Pretty nice of him I though. I am able to do so much more this year that I think I do way too much and just totally wipe myself out. We worked outside today from 8am till 5:30 today and only stopped to go to the bathroom or get drinks. I came in twice and made me protein shakes each time and then had chili for supper . Plus I had 3 protein balls in the morning and 2 in the afternoon so I think I got enough protein in and when im working like that I drink a whole lot more water. I drank 105 oz of water today. If I can do that everyday maybe those scales would finally move. Well guess what I did today. I got into Joes jeans. Lol Get your mind out of the gutter. Before surgery I couldn't even get them up to my knees now they go on and zip and button standing up , even have extra room in them. Made my day. Julia: I have the magenta colored and yellow 40"clocks. I may have some seed in out in my seed box from last year if you would like some. I will send them up with Andrew the end of this month. Ok? Along with your tomato plants . If you know know of any other seed you would like let me know I have a lot of different ones. Ok? Julia it was 76 out today. Absolutely beautiful. Last year that would have been hot to me and I would have been sweating after just a little bit but not today. I wore capris and a short sleeve shirt but wasn't hot at all. Sat in the sun when we would take a short break. Felt so good. You are so good about meeting people at the hospital I hope someone that lives close to you can do that for you. You know for all the sweetness you do someone should pay you back. I would if I lived up there that is for sure. Brenda: Arent those new babies fun to kiss and cuddle? I like kissing them on their necks right below the ear area. It is so soft and sweet. Lol. It is really weird isn't it for someone to say you are small or tiny or something that you haven't heard in years and don't think of yourself as that. My neighbor told me the other day that I was so tiny anymore. Lol weird. You know I think the arthritis pain is so much worse since surgery because our center of balance is all off. I had never had upper back pain until just lately and wound up having a mri and lots of xrays to see if anything was different. Well no I still have scoliosis and have arthritis all in my spine. From the neck all the way down but the physical therapist told me that when you lose lots of weight real fast that your center of gravity gets thrown all out of whack and you have to find a new way to carry yourself and that is what is causing the extra pain. Well I could have saved myself all of that money. Claudette our Circle of Friends had already told me that ....lol Anyway my doctor gave me a script for muscle relaxant and it is really helping a lot I think. I take a half one in the morning and another half at bedtime. The pain is a lot better. And I think the exercise and strengthing exercises I do are helping too. I hope your support meeting went well tonight and you had some one show up this month. I have been keeping your group in my prayers. I know there is a need for support group in your area , not if they will only come. Tammy: Thanks so very much for doing the daily prayer request post. That is great that people have a place to post their request and others can go there and see what is needed. So was your weather warm enough to get out and do anything today, or rather you and Joe. How is Joes youngest daughter doing and blending into your family. Are things going ok with her? I hope you got to go to the meeting in Fredericktown last night. I know you would love Brenda and Andrew they are super people. Janet: I guess you will be leaving early this morning for Columbia. You and Melissa better behave yourselves. We don't want to hear of you too being in some sort of trouble up there. That was funny what your mom said about the coffins you wanted to put your flowers in. I think keeping things growing well in any sort of pots is very hard. They require so much more water and lots more babying. Yes I have some lilac bushes. One purple and 2 white ones. They aren't very big yet but they are already getting buds on them . They didn't bloom last year but will hope they do this year. I need to move one of them it is getting way too much shade. So that has to be done soon. Do you know they even have yellow ones now too? Yes Joes pants did fit even too large in places. And way way too long of course. Since he is about a foot taller than I am lol The jeans I wore last month to the meeting are beginning to get really loose on me. So it wont be long till I have to put them in my too big box. Have you been able to wear any of the things I gave you ? As much as you have lost I would maybe think so . You have a great trip and a good checkup too. Andrew: Sounds like you are pretty ready for your veggie garden. I wouldn't recommend planting right now tho. They might get frost bitten. The last freeze date for this area is April 30 th so that is more than a month away. I know I want to get things in the ground too and get them started but I know better. I planted stuff one year about the first of April and lost everything. And had to do it all over again. I hope you all had a great meeting . did anyone else beside you and Brenda show up? I sure hope so. Debbie M: you planted flowers outside already? Arent you afraid they will get frost bitten? You live way futher north than us and I would be afraid to plant yet. Hopefully it wont but who knows. If not you will have a great head start on the rest of us. I know what you mean about the garden center. I am like a kid in a candy store when I go in one. I try not to go too often . I always buy more than what I intended. Lol So has your son said anything more about school or anything? Is he working if not going to school? I still keep him in my prayers too. LOVE AND JOY AND PEACE ABOUNDS JAN

Dear Jan and OH Peeps~ Well, Jan-was sure glad to see your post early, cause I have to get off to bed in hopes of getting up at 4 am and meeting Mel in Diamond for our trip to Columbia. I finally got everything packed but my phone charger and then will take my crystal lights out of the fridge in the morning....Im done. Im done. Im done!! What an awesome, beautiful day-too bad I spent most of it being miserable (My back of course)...and running ragged trying to get everyones things together, along with my own..I did, however, decide since I hurt anyway-to go plant some flowers. Jon and I planted them for about an hour and a half-and he had a BLAST....although I think there was more potting soil AROUND the area than where it was suppose to be, but dont tell him that-LOL...we did have fun. I got my dreaded call from the dr. ofc...they WILL NOT be doing the MRI-they have already diagnosed me and have set me up with a surgeon/specialist. I was sorta relieved that there was an answer-but dont like the answer I got. They diagnosed me with Facet Arthropathy and I have disinigration (sp?) in L4, L5 and S1.... She gave me the wrong date tho-she told me April 14-and thats a Sat-so I will be calling the specialist/surgeon on the road in the morning to see if they meant to tell me March 14, in which case I will not be home yet. Not sure I can last until April 14th to tell you the truth...She offered to call me in anti inflammatorys or NSAIDS...told her that I cant take either. She asked about flexiril-told her that I can, but she asked me to check with Dr. Fearing tomorrow anyway! So, I will check. In the meantime, I went to my moms and picked some up and have taken 2....its so overwhelming to me to think that I have lost 115# and now I will be in the same boat I was in, by hurting all the time and not being able to enjoy my life. I am so depressed right now-and I sure dont get like that often! They are doing an epidural on my first visit and then we are going to discuss how bad it is etc...I already know the answer. She did tell me that I HAVE to have the cyst removed as it is pushing on something causing it to be worse-but it sure doesnt hurt where the cyst is-unless it is touched or pressure applied- where it really hurts is the middle back and the lump is now sticking way out...can be seen through my shirts even (when they arent the mumbo jumbo ones I have) For the first time since my surgery and recovery-I feel like maybe I wont be able to be successful and maybe this wasnt all worth it! I KNOW, I KNOW-I need to have faith...I am beaten down right now I think, and just dont like the idea of being a vegetable like before. The thought of FINALLY getting this far and then going back 100 steps just overwhelms me...BIG TIME...Please say some prayers, I am not even asking to be healed...but dont want to live the rest of my life in pain like I am now...Heck, I dont know! I thought about cancelling the Columbia trip-but feel like the time away will be really nice AND I will be in good company-maybe keep my mind off of everything happening around me-plus....it hurts no matter what I do-so may as well go and get it over with. I cant wait to see my doc-and to also meet Dr. Scott with Mel on Weds since he was the one who partnered up with Dr. Fearing when she did mine....so it will be nice to meet him! Jan, yes some things do fit-about 6-7...everything else will fit this summer and I am pretty excited about that! My sz 26 jeans I just bought a little over week ago-are baggy in the rear, waist and thighs and thats just 11# more since I bought them! I even threw them in the dryer double time to see if I could get them to shrink, NO SUCH LUCK!! Oh well, will just wear them as much as possible until I cant! I also FINALLY went and tried on new shoes-didnt get any, was just curious about the sizing. I went from 11 shoe-to a 8-9.5 depending on what kind of shoe it is. Thats pretty cool to me! Jan, yeah, I knew there were white lilacs-but not yellow. I think my favorite are the purple...I love the smell no matter what the color is.. My lilac bush was one of the biggest I had ever seen...and one year it didnt bloom and I felt like I missed spring because of it. Its my favorite. Maybe I will pick your brain about when to plant them and where...and maybe I will just have to break down and buy one, when I have the extra money of course. CONGRATS ON THE JEANS... I thought they would-I dont think you realize how tiny you look either!! You do! I am so excited for you Jan-keep up the good work! That put a little pep in your step, didnt it? I am thinking of everyone, just feel droopy tonite-so I am going to close and get ready for the trip. Will miss you guys until I return. Please take care and be safe and I am praying for each and every one of you and any issues that have come up. God Bless and Love to all. Janet

Facet arthropathy is rarely the only cause of significant back low back pain, and patients who have this condition often have other disorders that may be contributing to their symptoms, including degenerative disc disease, arthritis of other parts of the spine, and often spinal stenosis as well. Most people with even mild to moderate amounts of arthritis of the lumbar spine will have evidence of facet joint degeneration on a CT scan (CAT scan) or MRI. A bone scan, which shows areas of active inflammation in the spine, is a test that can be used to determine whether or not facet arthropathy may be contributing to a patient's back pain. The facet joints themselves can be selectively injected with a mixture of a local anesthetic and an anti-inflammatory steroid. If this injection relieves a significant amount of the patient's back pain, and there is evidence to suggest that the facet joints are arthritic (such as a positive bone scan, CT, or MRI), then the diagnosis of facet arthropathy can be made with some confidence. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oh, Janet C....my heart goes out to you. I was born with this, and it is NOT pretty, but it can be "tamed" and the pain lessened...so don't fret, I am more worried about the cyst, and it sounds like they can get that easily. Never regret the WLS!!! Had you not had it, you couldn't have seen the cyst, right? And we want that dude outta there. I will tell you having Degenerative Disk Disease along with Degenerative Arthritis throughout my body, NO, the Pain doesn't EVER go away WITH WLS, but YOU HAVE to know that since we aren't carrying around our "former sized" selves, we HAVE to have LESS pain... You are just beginning the WLS journey, I really think you and I BOTH will see great improvements in our quality of life.... I love you, and will be thinking about you!

HI Ms Jan. Its been a very nice day out. I walked all day almost. Jesus has been talking to me about alot of things he wants me to work on, in my life. Sometimes you just got to help yourself if shown the way. He keeps bringing back singing and music to me like that is what im suppose to do. Iam gonna fight this trach thing. Iam not gonna give up. Doc H said i dont need it and he hasnt been the only one either. I walked up to the community building of Laplata housing since im a member and played the piano...I was so scared, for I have not played in so long. I prayed for Jesus to lay his hands on mine and guide them..before long i was playing...it was beautiful. Heaven came down and Glory filled my soul. Then i would walk along and something else came to mind, I said " Jesus i can hear you...thank you Jesus..". Iam having really bad back pains and it hurts so bad at times it makes me cry out. But you know its nothing compared what i went through this past 9 years. Struggling for breathe , getting scared....I praise God for what he has done for me this past year. I told my brother over the weekend I was a walking miracle in the making. This is the Lords handy work. My brother and I had a talk and it was so awesome. We as adults now sitting and talking. when you get sick for 9 years you lose out on everything. watching little nephews and nieces growing up ....everyone looks much older.Its like i woke up from a coma and things around me has changed..Sitting and crying is not a bad thing to do . It keeps you from building up bad things within. I remember during church as a pentecostal boy how the spirit of the Lord was so strong you couldnt help from crying. When you left church you know you been to church thats for sure.... I never get tired of Talking about Jesus. Esp now this whole soon to be year he has shown us all his handy work. If you are home and nothing to do . throw yourself down kneeling and thank Jesus for giving you back your life. Thank him for bringing Dr Scott, Dr. Hornbostel and all the find people of WLS into your life. THank him Thank hiim We all dont thank him enough. Iam just rattling on sitting here listening to Enya. I find peace in here music. Iam also 100% Welsh so maybe that has something to do with it. I went to my PCP appt to day for my Vitb12 shot, i Have lost another 7lbs. now im down to 248-9. my nurse laughed and said it was teeter toddering LOL My back is chronic back pain and i now have to have physcal threapy in KV. thats ok just means i get to excersize more. Cant wait to see you all in June i got the calendar marked and my money saved up . I expect to have hugs from each and everyone of you. Its time to rejoice now. time to give it all to Jesus. Night Ms Jan and to all my OH friends. May God keep riching your lives. This was his plan for us. SO lets give me all the praise. God BLess Craig Lee

Craig, just wanted to say that your posts are such soul lifters! : ) Sharing about your experience playing the piano...that was GREAT! I hope you'll find ways to play more. I have a local WLS friend, Jean, (don't see her on here much but, now and then) and she and her sons have a gospel group that I REALLY want to see sometime. Maybe you'll end up with YOUR own! You're up near my family.....I got some pics last night from a KV police officer...my dad rear ended him and totaled the car! Did you see that? Thank God no one was seriously hurt. Glad to see you came back Craig! Hugs, Tami

Hi Jan & MO board friends, Well Jan I don't know about the people that say they want to come to support meeting and then don't. Tonight it was just me and Andrew it gets really discouraging. We pretty much decided that it's not worth us driving so far, and opening up the church and then nobody shows up. So I don't think we will do it again. Because we have had it now for 3 months and every month someone says they really want to come and then don't. So without commitment there is no point. I had talked to my DH about the center of gravity being different after weight loss and I think that's what it is to. I am still going to PT so I'm hoping it will eventually help. Well I'm going to bed. Good Night Brenda

Good Morning Everyone: Well I am packed and rip rearing to go. (I think) lol Thought I would come in and post a few words before I threw on my clothes and headed out the door. DEFINATLEY looking forward to getting away for 2 days. Had a blast down at my sister's house on Sunday. My parents were surprised to see us. We hid the car and came out of hiding when they all get into the house. My sister made a wonderful meal that was delious. Didnt make it home until almost midnight and we left at 4am that morning. Needless to say it was a very long day. While there at my sister house we went thro some of her photo's and I found 2 that I kept. 1 was back in 2001 at my nephews graduation and the other 1 was when I was 16 (21 years ago) and in my prom dress that my Aunt made for me. I am thinner now then in both photo's!!!! Doing Janet's baby happy dance. I am going to bring them to the meeting at the end of this month. Well I pray everyone has a great day. It is suppose to be beatiful out again. Will post again when I get home. God Bless Mel

Good Morning, Jan and Missouri Peeps: It was one week ago yesterday I begin the journey to my new life. Today is my one week check up with Dr. H. My son Luke is going to drive me. Will be nice to get to chat with my 16 year old for almost 3 hours ( 1 1/2 hours coming and going) with no one else around. Hardly ever get to do that! When the boys came home from school today, Jake went on a walk around the block with me! I was going to try and make it twice but decided I'd better not. Later that evening Luke took me to Walmart and I spent about 1/2 hour or so walking and shopping. Saw a few people I knew. It felt good to be out and about. Got home around 7:30 and was exhausted. This morning I actually got up and made the boys ham and cheese omelets with toast and juice. I haven't done this in months. They were thrilled and it did my heart good too. If I'm not mistaken, I may be able to have a low fat cheese omelet soon? Is that right? Sounds good to me! It's suppose to be another beautiful day! I am so ready for Spring! Jan, have you heard of a Hydrangea Tree? Cottage Farms sales one on QVC. The product number is M10521. Would you mind going to QVC.com and checking it out? I have a brown thumb but they say these trees are hardy and they are beautiful. I really want to plant one in our front yard to represent and give me a reminder of my new journey in life. It matures to 10 to 15 feet and is frost hardy! I shared this with my hubby, because he would have to plant it, and he said sure we can plant it in the back yard. I told him NO WAY, this tree was going in the front yard! It says it won't be shipped until 4/19 due to where I live in Kansas. It's already limited....I think I'm going to go ahead and order it....then my dear hubby will have to plant it! I don't think $50 is bad for a 3 to 4 foot starter tree. But of course, I am new to all of this and wanted to know your opinion. Well, it's 8:30 a.m. I'm going to lay down for about an hour then start getting ready to go. I have lots of questions for Dr. H. Hope he is ready! My scale shows I've lost about 10 lbs this week. Will see what his scale shows. Hope everyone is able to get out and enjoy this wonderful day the Lord has made! Debbie D.

Afternoon Missouri, What a nice day again today, sorta cloudy and we've had a lil rain but over all its still nice. I have the door and windows open again, I love it. Jan Im not gonna plant anything until next month, well except Onions, I was told now was the time to plant them and as for the flowers, nah I wont plant them either until its for sure no frost, I sure dont want to have to replant stuff like you did. The garden spots will be alread tho when it comes time. The lil spider plant starts are just growing like a weed, soon they'll be ready to hang out on my deck when they get the roof built on it. Im sure you've read Brenda's post that no one else showed up, I guess we're not gonna have them cuz really its not worth the drive when no one shows up, esp for Brenda and her husband, they drive so far. Maybe we'll get togethre every so often and have a good WLS chat. Well the brother in law is going home on wednsday, dunno how this is all gonna work out cuz he cant do anything for himself at the moment. He's asked me to come stay with him during the day while his wife is at work so I dunno what im gonna do. I cant be there every day but yet I want to help and if I dont go then he'll be there all alone. He doesnt qualify for Medicade, well his spin down is like $600 or better so he cant get a nurse/housekeeper to come in every day. A nurse will come in 3 days a week to change the dressing on his leg but thats all she'll do so I guess we'll see what happens. I cant do my class work over there cuz they dont have highspeed net and you really need highspeed to particapate in classes. It can be done on dial up but the dial up they have is pretty useless. Anyway enough of my complaining, I'll give it to God and let him work it out. The only thing that bothers me about helping him everyday is that I'll be stuck there with no car or anything cuz Susan has to work and his wife has to work, we both only have 1 car, lately Im so used to being able to go out and do things so just keep me in your prayers if ya would, that God will work it out for both of us. Craig its great to see ya posting again, ya really been on my mind and in my prayers. Glad your doing as well as ya can, I'll keep ya in my prayers that ya back gets better. Anyway, I just wanted to stop in and say hi, I got get my assignments done for today. Hope everyone is having a blessed day. Andrew

Evening All... Just a quick post to let you all know we are doing fine. The flowers we planted are transplanted daffodils that I posted about earlier. They grow in the middle of this thicket and this time of year is the only time I can get to them. They will do fine...all the other planting that I'm doing is in the house. Seeds, bulbs...whatever. I bought a couple of strawberry plants today but they are staying inside too. My bunny tails and jasmine have come in too...everything is waiting on the Lord to call it spring! David has been on vacation and we have been staying pretty busy. We rode the harley down to Clinton tonight, had supper and came back. I did just fine for not being on the bike for 2 years. I had a little trouble getting my right leg and foot to work right (sciatica, nerve damage and drop foot) getting on and off the bike but David was very understanding and patient. If I keep this up I just might be able to ride the harley to the reunion. Janet, yes David will give you a ride if you want! David goes back to work in the morning so I will be on pretty early to read, catch up and do some major praying for a lot of you! Glad to see you back Craig!! Even better seeing you so blessed!! Love & prayers to all....Deb M