Another beautiful da...

Another beautiful day today. I think it got up to 82 today, quite a bit over normal. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop so to speak. It just seems so weird that a couple of weeks ago we were freezing our butts off and now it is in the 80s. I love it because I have finally gotten warm and we are sleeping with our bedroom window open . Not cool at night even. I haven't had to have the heat in the house or on the green house on for several days. That should lower our elect bill some. So nice to be able to open the windows and let some fresh air in too. Get rid of the winter blas. I still didn't feel well today but feel good starting about 6 in the evening. Don't understand this never have. One day maybe I will figure it out. Lana: Great news about your grandson and his surgery. Hope your daughter and your grandson made it back to their home ok. She has a lot on her plate to be a single mom and have to deal with stuff by herself. Good thing she has you and her dad to help her out. Will continue to pray for grandsons healing. Craig: When you called me this afternoon and told me that your friend had passed away I had been asleep and sorry if I were not as responsive as I should have been. This was such short notice for her family to find this out just a few days ago and to have this happen so fast. It has to be something that is hard for her loved ones to take. But is so wonderful that you were there with her when she took her last breath. I know it was a comfort to her to know you were with her. You have such compassion for people that I know you are hurting but just know that you did what a lot of friends and family couldn't do and that is help her pass on to eternity. Will pray for you and her kids. Tammy :Hey glad you were pronounced sane by a professional , we might not have believed it other wise lol. Good to know that your step daughter is doing ok now. Hope you got some sleep today anyway. Wanted to thank your for doing the Prayer post for us daily. It is a good thing. Don't push yourself or beat yourself up over not losing anything this last two weeks . You can have stalls at any stage of this game and before wls is just as easy to have them as after. Hang on it will get better and am praying you will get a surgery date soon. Janet: So sad about your adopted daughters new baby having a blood disease. It isn't cureable? Is it genetic? That has to be hard on them, the parents. So sad. I have prayed today for them and for your daughters grandmother. Can you not get your mother into low income housing or senior housing? I sure hope you get to come to the meeting. You need a night out and about I think. Are you getting too tied up in knots over the reunion thing? Vesta: Do any of your mums bloom in the spring and then again in the fall? Looks like all the plants I made out of the branches you brought me are going to make a nice bush and most of them have buds on them. I am anxiously waiting for them to open so I can see them. LOL no it doesn't make sence to me why someone who could retire doesn't. I have thought about finding a job since I am feeling so much better but now that it is spring I don't know where I would fit a job into my busy schedule of flowers and yard work lol Melissa: I am waiting for a email about the ponds and pumps if you have them with them. Sorry to hear about Terry being in such pain. I know how it is to watch someone you love be in pain and not be able to do anything about it. Joe is in pain most days and some days worse than others. Your father in law really worries me and what will happen while you are in the hospital staying with Terry. I just hope you can get him to go to the doctor and maybe get this solved. Will he not go to the doctor for Terry? Tara: So great to see you back online. I had to smile at your statement that you could have tuna or chicken of the sea. Lol Made me think of Jessica Simpson. When she thought that Chicken of the Sea was chicken, instead of the name brand of Tuna. Im glad you didn't try eating something new while at work. That isn't the place to try new foods, when you don't know how they will be for you. Better safe than sorry. So how are you doing weight wise or are you wanting to surprise us Monday night. I am looking forward to seeing you then. Sugar: didn't talk to you today but hope you are feeling better than yesterday. Did you get some B-complex pills? Were you able to take them by cutting them up? If you don't feel like driving yourself to the meeting Monday night I will come get you. Rest and sleep more than you are up you should start feeling some better soon. Sherr: hey good to finally see you here again. Have you been so busy that you couldn't say hi to us? Im glad your father had a good birthday. How is your mother doing with her knees? Is she scheduled for knee replacement yet? Hey I didn't see any new pictures on your profile. Am im missing them? I hope you have fun tomorrow visiting with your friend. Drive over and see us sometime why don't you. At one of our meetings maybe. Casey, Krissy, Michele and Susan. All welcome to the Missouri Boards and I know that some of you have posted before but doesn't hurt to say another welcome to you too. No matter where you are on the road to Weight Loss Surgery. It is a all consuming adventure isn't it. It eventually gets to be a way of life and I am beginning to get there. But it is such a learning process of not only eating and physical but also emotional times that your mind totally is wrapped up in all of this . Joe said that he is beginning to see me again . I know I am beginning to feel like me again, not the fat me but the me I had forgotten existed. The me I use to be, the me that was happy and loved to do things. Im really glad to see her again. I sort of like her a lot better than the fat Jan. lol Will talk to you all tomorrow. LOVE AND JOY AND PEACE ABOUNDS JAN

Don't ya just love days like to day?????? We better enjoy it now, it wont be no time and we will all be burning up!!! Jan....Yes I did get a little sleep today...I went to bed about 5am and got up at 10:45am.....Was plenty to go on since alot of times I do good to get 4-5 hours sleep....... Janet....So sorry to hear about your grandbaby....I pray there is something they can do to help it......Please keep us informed! Mel.....I will pray you can talk your f-I-l into going to get checked soon. Do you think it could be depression? Alot of the time people do sleep alot and eat less with depression. Sherr...I too have been wondering how your mother is doing....We haven't heard from you alot lately...I know how time consuming it can be to care for another person.....When my mom was so sick a few years ago I had to move in with her to be able to keep up....I had a husband & 4 kids to take care of on top of what I did for her....It got to way to much to do all that and running for everyone on top of taking care of two households and doing two sets of bills and etc.......... I seen jan invited you to drop in on one of their meetings some night..... If you decide to go sometime and don't have anyone to ride with you give me a yell I would love to go visit them again!!! I really enjoyed getting to go last month and meet them all and to hear all the things they talked about....And it was great getting to see before and after pics.... It made me even more anxious to see what I will look like with 100lbs and more less of me...... I'm with jan....It's great to hear from everyone and know how things are going for them......Hopefully everyone will start dropping in now and then and posting...... And jan....I know what you mean about the other you......I haven't forgotten the other me, she just can't get out!!!! But she will soooon!!!! Yall won't know what hit lol lol lol......I'm kidding...I know I will still be me but it will be so nice to be the old me that is energetic, out going and full of life like I use to be........ Well gotta run for now......Hope to check back tomorrow and see a ton of posts on here!!!!!! ............Hugs and love....Tammy h.

Hello Jan and MO peeps~ Well, I am feeling rather gloomy and down today....so much has been going on that I just cant seem to dig myself out of one situation before another hits. The baby is doing much better....I guess they have had to do some sort of transfusion or something like that. Very high risk pregnancy and like I said before-they lost the first baby due to this rare blood disorder-they are talking about letting mom AND baby go home today-so he must be doing well!! Thanks prayer warriors! I cant wait to be able to hold the little guy. They will also be releasing grandma from the hospital today-she did have a massive stroke BUT didnt break her hip. The family is trying to decide where she will live now. What a mess. Wish I had room, I would bring her here! Jan-the waiting for low income housing is anywhere from 6 mos to 1 1/2 yrs. One of the senior places we went to yesterday said that she had to be on SSI or SS to get in, and since she is on neither-they denied her. I have been so upset about this situation I just cant hardly see straight. Hope something works out REAL soon! We left our windows open last night as well-its been nice and warm, but its starting to thunder outside and thats not a good sign! We are suppose to get some bad weather our way today-hope it passes us up!! Well, Mel called me bright and early this morning (7:10) and she hadnt been asleep ALL night-her female problems AGAIN..Ok guys-just got a phone call and Mels doctor has sent her over to the specialist/surgeon and they have told her to go to the emergency room-so thats where I am headed right now. I will finish posting after we get done there. Love to all, Jan

Hello Missouri, It is so good to be home again and back on the board. I missed you guys, even if it was just for three days. I had a real WOW this AM. Last month, presidents day holiday, I went up to DD's house and on the way home stopped at Penneys and bought some jeans that were way too small, but the price was good and I loved them. Tried them on this AM and I am wearing them at work now. They were a Junior size and I thought I'd have to lose way more to get them on but they fit now, only about 8-10 pounds later. WOO HOO!!! Tami had mentioned that the new stretch denim and the lower cut waist is more forgiving to some bodies and they sure are to mine. I still don't have much waist but since the jeans are cut lower they fit!!! My kids got home last night and did OK. It was quite a struggle getting him into the house, they had a couple of steps to get up, but they made it. He's hurting a little today but that's to be expected. The surgery was pretty drastic. Every day it will get better. He's mainly bored!!! Twelve is such a wonderful age. Can't wait until Monday and seeing everyone. I sure need that shot of encouragement and information every month. I've been wondering about sweet potatoes. Jan, I think you eat them baked. I wanted to just have a little piece of John's at dinner. Let me know. I asked Claudette about them, too. I went to Trader Joe's in St. Louis and boy do they have lots of stuff we could enjoy. I got edamame and cooked it as soon as I got home last night. It is edible soy beans and they are full of protein but remind me of lima beans. Also found some very low carb crackers and other goodies. Wish we had something like that here. It is my favorite store and right now St. Louis is the closest one. Again, I want to say how much I appreciate all your prayers. It comforted Adam to know that his church family and my OH family were praying for him. He's a strong Christian boy and believes in prayer. I won't know how much I've lost until tomorrow when I do my weekly weighing. As of last Saturday I'd lost 64 pounds but for the past three days I've not eaten well, not too much, in fact probably not enough, but didn't get my water in and so I may not lose anything this week. It is raining and thundering in Springfield right now. Just the kind of day I like when I don't have to go out. I drove all the way from Rolla to St. Louis in heavy rain Tuesday afternoon and it was yucky, trucks throwing water up on my windshield every time I passed them. AND yes I had to pass them because I drive really fast!!! I'm feeling a little emotional today, a rare thing for me. My DD seems a little jealous because I've lost weight and she needs to lose. I know she wishes I hadn't had the surgery, I'm not as much fun to go out to eat with, etc. However, she's not mean about it, just touchy. That said, I am so glad every day that I decided to have this surgery. I have had such wonderful results and am fortunate not to have had many episodes of pain or discomfort with foods. I think for three months out I am eating a wide variety of foods and I rarely experience any problems. I am extremely careful and don't try too many new things at once and I chew well and cut finely and most importantly I stop if I feel the slightest bit full or funny in my pouch. I know I'm just starting this journey and that things get harder as we get further from surgery but this is a great tool and I pray for strength to continue to use it wisely. For all of you just starting your journey, it is soooooo worth any hoops you have to jump through. I had to do the six months physician supervised diet and exercise program and I'd do everything again tomorrow, including the surgery, if it was necessary to make me feel the way I do now, 64 pounds later. I have energy, and not having to take the diabetes, hypertension and anticholesterol medicines has really improved the quality of my life. They literally made me sick every day while keeping my diseases in check. This surgery is not a fix-all. You have to make smart choices and eat right because you don't have room in your pouch for junk or to make bad decisions. However, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to remember not to eat bread, pasta, white potatoes, rice or sugar and to read the labels on everything and watch for carbs and sugars. We just have to eat smart, not just dump everything into our mouths like we have for all our previous lives. It's not brain surgery so we have to do the brain part ourselves but our pouch helps us remember the rules!!! I really was on a rant wasn't I? Thanks for being there to listen. Hugs and love, Lana

hello again....I just got back from Joplin and spent about 1/2 hr on the phone with my mom and then my daughter... I am so angry right now! Just was thinking today that I am so frustrated that a lot of things going on, I cant fix and I cant do anything to help. Am praying solely for strength to be a good support person to the people I need to be there for. I dont know HOW to deal with the pain my loved ones are going through. I cant stand to see them cry and I cant stand to see them hurting...man-does that hurt! Jan-you said in your post you missed the person you used to be-I did too-and I was starting to see her, and her soul is a lot happier than the fat me...I know this-but lately my soul feels so sad! I feel so helpless and I am angry that everyone around me is hurting and I cant stop it. I know I am venting, and I am sorry.....I guess this posting each day is like keeping a journal-only I share it with all of you-LOL...whether you like it or not- Mel goes back to specialist on Monday morning. PLEASE SAY PRAYERS....I cant stand to see her hurting so bad-and know that nothing I can say or do for her will make it go away or make her feel better. Wow-this has been a fairly crappy couple of months for my loved ones between my daughters, my mother, my stepson, my son and Mel and Terry, Sherr, my adopted daughter, Amanda and grandma Aline....I am seriously afraid to answer my phone, and waiting for the next shoe to fall is always right there in the back of my mind! I dont feel like I can even be happy right now. Too many people around me are truly suffering and who can be happy when the people you love are hurting? I dont think anyone can!! Well, I am going to get off here now-Mel is home or should be shortly. Am not sure she will feel like getting on and posting, since she didnt get any sleep last night and then all the pain meds etc-they are bound to catch up with her and then she will be OUT like a light!!! I knew there was a reason I couldnt sleep last night either, but I couldnt put my finger on it!! I will try and talk to you all tomorrow. Depends on how things go here. Take care and love you all-you are all in my prayers. Love, Janet

How you blessed me with your encouragement it was as I could feel the words as if you were actuaully talking to me so you are a blessing to this group as well as the other ladies which took the time to reply to my post..My husband went thru 5 years of pain after being diagnosed with cancer I dont no the details of what your going thru as I have not read all your post but I do no how your feeling not being able to do something about someone you love pain but...God is a healer and will carry you thru and bring you out weeping May endure for anight but joy cometh in the morning and there is a day coming soon when you will be out of the trial so hold on sis the storm will pass May god continue to bless this group and im holding u up in prayer krissy......

Dear Krissy, Im sorry when I emailed you, I had the hubby part in there-and you were probably thinking-what the heck is she talking about? Im so sorry....I had you confused with Susan T.....(blushing) There are so many new people, that I get confused easily, but I am NOT complaining-the more you all post-the more we will get to know you-and you will be family too!!! Please forgive me....I still want you to email me, if you want (promise I dont have blonde moments all that often-LOL....everyone else knows I am an airhead!!) But my heart is in the right place..!!!! If you live close to Springfield, would love to see you at the meeting Monday. Take care honey-and again, I am sorry for the confusion...Love ya, Janet

Hey Momma Jan, My pics are actually "IN" the profile, so when you click on my profile, you will see them within the writing piece of my whole "thing" LOL I will go now and add them to the photo section My mom had her last shot a week ago, and today she told me she is a "5" on the 1-10 pain scale.... She is usually a 10, so I was sooooooo relieved. My dad had a nice day with me yesterday, but him getting up and down out of my tall truck made him really hurt, so today he could hardly walk. I...like each of you guys (post op) feel so hopeless for loved ones right now. Bailey had another tumor, and Luc's magically faded away..Bailey was the puppy that had the HUGE cancerous tumor on his throat...I am so sad, I will take him back to the vet on Monday if I can get in. I am worn out....doing the stuff at mom's and then here, is making me tired, then the mental things I can't seem to deal with is just putting me in the same place that is sounds like most of you guys are in. Know that even tho I don't post, I try to read about each of you every day. XOXO