Sorry I've Been AWOL!

It is a sorry statement on how technically dependent my family is on my teenage son.....he went to California for two weeks and I have been dead in the water. It is all of the little things that pop up - I yell his name and he fixes it right away. I know that doesn't help me learn how to do for myself, but I admit I am spoiled by his technical assist and haven't really WANTED to know. I just want it to work. I would make a joke about how if it wasn't for him our VCR would blink midnight permanently (which it did before he was born) but we haven't even had a VCR for year now. We have DVDs which I of course don't know how to use unless my younger daughters are home. I can't operate my digital camera outside of the very basic picture taking and AGAIN totally depend on my son to ever print the pictures or even look at them on the computer screen. But hey I can wallpaper and I'm a great cook! To new names on the board WELCOME! I am fairly dependable for checking in, and would love to offer any info that I might know to help anyone along the way. Dina...your progress has been amazing, but this is the first time that I for real didn't know it was your response I was reading because I didn't recognize your new picture! What is it that at this point we perhaps aren't losing the large and rapid amounts like in the first months, but our looks still can really change so much?!? You were responding about getting your surgery in Mexico and that is the point at which I took another look at the picture and IT WAS YOU!!! You are just beautiful! Rosie...I responded to your same E-mail twice, but I don't think either one went through. That was the beginning of my computer crisis. I could tell none of my SEND clicks were really going and then what I typed was gone. I forget what I said now, but E-mail me and let me know how you are doing? I am having a great summer enjoying my new size. A person can wear shorts at any size, but I was one who hadn't for a decade. I have freely worn shorts and skirts all summer, and can't stand when the laundry isn't done and I have to wear pants. Hot weather was an area that I suffered with alot, and I am so grateful that this summer has not been the ordeal that hot temperatures meant in the past. When I was so heavy I couldn't tolerate the heat and would get sick (like in sweating, diarrhea, weakness) at anything above 85 and got so sweaty and hot and bothered by anything in the 80s. I wasn't just wanting to look good in a pair of shorts, as with a lot of the aspects of obesity it was really physical suffering. I have loved being in public pools all summer, and for this summer at least I'm ignoring the wisdom about sun damage. I am very tan and couldn't be happier! Even my doctor gave me her blessing for this summer only to go ahead get tan! I wore my first size ten this week. And it was an easy fit! My weight loss has slowed to almost not happening. I'm at 159, but a month ago at a little over 160 I was still in a size twelve. My surgeon Dr. Hong being a guy really doesn't get the references to clothes sizes. I told him if he is in this business of WLS he needs to get in the know about what sizes mean. Whenever I go in I tell what size I'm wearing and looks about as blank as my husband does. At least for us girls size is EVERYTHING! I've lost 170 pounds. I really can't believe it myself! Anyhow....just thought I would check in and say hi to everyone! Patty Go to this URL to see a recent picture of me: http://bb.1asphost.com/sizors/patty.jpg

Dear Patty, Thank you for the treadmill. It was a real treat to sit with you and meet your family. You are a beautiful woman( in every way), my dear, and you have earned the pleasures you are enjoying. Much happiness to you and yours. We just returned from our son's wedding in British Columbia. It well very very well and we are pleased to say that they are off and away on their honeymoon in Morea. A messages on our answering machine left sad news of two deaths close to me, so we are back to BC this afternoon to attend one funeral and must miss the other in California. My auntie lived a long and happy life and died at 90. My best friend from college, unfortunately, did neither. Nevertheless, there is some relief in both situations. Amisdt the joy is pain, so that's how life goes, eh? Thanks again for your kindness and the pleasure of your company. tee

Tee, I am truely sorry for your loss. ((((hugs)))) ~Melody~

Patty you look fantastic & beautiful! Wow! Great job and congratulations on your success I know what you mean about the son thing. Mine is in Fort Benning Georgia. He joined the Army and is in Boot Camp. I wish he wouldn't have signed up at a time like this. But he is strong minded & very independant....so off he went. I am very proud of him but I miss him terribly. Like your son, mine does so much for me. He puts up curtain rods for me, changes my light bulbs, changes my oil & filters on my car, makes my yard look manicured and pretty!!! So many things he does for me and he never complains. Most of the time, he just does things without me even asking! I couldn't of asked for a better Son.God blessed me for sure! I constantly tell him how much I adore and appreciate him for taking care of me. I really miss him. Friday I am having surgery at Good Sams and I wish he could be here. I won't see him again until December, after Boot Camp. But when I do see him, I will look a whole lot better and he will too.... all buffed out and all! lol Have a great Wednesday! ~Melody~

Patty - you just look incredible! That tan is just wonderful too!! I wish I had more time to get tan this year but I didn't! I can't believe you have lost so much weight - it's just incredible! 170 lbs is a MAN! You have lost a stinking man!!! I still have another 40 lbs to lose, but if you consider I intend on lopping off around 10 lbs of skin from various places on my body, I'd lose 30 and have it all done. I'm at 192 right now so I have a ways to go for my "goal." Congrats on getting into the size 10's! I will die if/when I ever see that size. I have never in my life been in a size 10. I do recall getting into a tight size 11 when I was a teen once for about 30 minutes. But that is as close as I got. 11/12. Thank you so much for the compliment. I do feel my face has changed a lot lately. Funny though - that pic I had up earlier I felt was so very flattering but when I look at it now my face looks large in comparison. I guess it should be since it was taken 10 months ago. I guess I figured I was done losing weight but still end up taking off a few here and there. People I work with see it well before I ever do. They ask if I've lost weight and I tell them no, then the next week I drop 5 or something. Weird how that works! I too have been AWOL but it is so comforting to come back here and get caught up with everyone who has been AWOL as well. It's fun to see where everyone is at. I know at this point it comes off so slowly that it doesn't feel like there is much to report, but then pretty soon 6 months goes by and there has indeed been a change that we didn't realize! It took me 4 months but I lost 20 lbs in those 4 months from the time I saw my doctor to the time I saw him the other day. Who knew? I didn't think I had lost that much! Woohoo! Now that I think about it like that, it's pretty cool! Good to hear from you and see the new pic! You need to post it as your current after! Dina