what's new Sunday?

Well poor Susan !!! That must hurt like crazy. OUCHIES and CRY!! Keep that foot elevated and don't walk any more than necessary today. Annette

Seven hours later and it's still bleeding. Guess it's a trip to the ol' doc tomorrow.  Just my luck, I can finally wear cute shoes, the niece's wedding is coming up and I'll probably lose this toenail.  Figures

Good Morning Margo and everyone....... Margo I continue to keep your grandmother in my prayers. I pray she is getting better everyday. As for me....... I went out dancing last night. Danced in high heals all night. My feet didn't hurt a bit. Danced with a nice cowboy. We had a good time. I personally know the band so we sat with their family members. Lots of laughs and a good time!! Today is car race day...so I will be heading out to the track at about 3:30PM. Fun...fun....fun!!! I need to go shopping for a strapless bra. I need one for the top I am planning on wearing . I hate bra shopping!! Nic and his best friend Steven helped my daughter Jamie run their garage sale yesterday. He was texting me and telling me funny things that were happening. Sounds like they had a good day.  Best go throw on some clothes...still in a robe!! I need to get my shopping underway. Prayers always to those in need. Love and hugs to all....connie d

Aloha Margo and OFF family.....

Margo..thanks for sharing so deeply about your life story. I learned much about you that I didn't know. You are a strong woman...and you can handle whatever comes your way...I have no doubt!!

Cheryl, I can identify with you on several levels. I lost one of my best friends recently very suddenly. She had a cut on her toe that didn't heal, and when she went to the hospital finally......the infection had migrated to her brain, and she died within 10 days!! I still can't believe it....and I miss her. I thought we would both grow old together with our childhood memories of riding horses over the hills and valleys of Oregon to keep our friendship close.

Also, your stomach problems are ringing bells for me, too. I had another episode on Friday night. I was sick and throwing up all night and could not keep down even water. I slept from 3:00 to 4:00 and was about to call the hospital saying I wouldn't be in to test my babies, but when I awoke at 4:00, I felt much better. I showered and DID go to work. I had 10 babies....a lot.....and managed to test them all, and felt pretty good considering I hadn't had anything to eat since around noon the day before. (I was afraid to eat......afraid that it would come back up). I finally had a bite of a protein bar because I needed to take a tylenol and didn't want to take it on an empty stomach.

I finished with my baby testing around 10:00 (got to the hospital at 5:00 a.m.), and stopped by the lab where a good friend is an ultra sound specialist. I told her about my stomach problem the night before, and since she wasn't busy, she said "Hop up on the table...I'll do an ultrasound on your belly." Well, talk about a good friend!! She said my organs, liver, pancreas, kidneys looked "beautiful." She saw the protein bar being digested and said she didn't see any kinks or twisting in my intestines...good news. However, when she had me roll onto my side and looked at my gall bladder, she said it was very LARGE, and should have been contracting to digest the protein bar. That worried her. I'm seeing my bariatric doc on Thurs....so I'll tell him what she found. I wonder if this infrequent stomach trauma is my gall bladder. Does anyone have similar stories? I know some of you had your gall bladder out along with your surgery. I'll grateful for any input that my shed light on this problem.

It's Sunday morning 6:30 a.m. and we have a nice south swell and the surfer dudes and dudettes are already out front enjoying the waves. Yesterday they were out in droves, and it was fun to sit on the lanai and watch their antics. We don't get good surfing waves on this side of the island very often, and when we do....they come from miles to ride the waves.

So much going on with this little OFF family. I hope those of you struggling with problems, find solutions. I send a hug for those of you just needing to know that you are loved, appreciated and valued. My thanks goes to my Big Kahuna for giving me all of you to share my life and this incredible journey we call life before and after WLS.

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen

Oh Karen, I bet your trouble is gallbladder related.  Mine was just starting to go bad when all this began and if it wasn't for that they never would have seen the hernia or the twisted bowel.  There is a part of the small bowel that can't be seen on an x-ray, ultra sound or CT scan, so if they go in to remove the gallbladder I'm sure the surgeon will take a peek to see if there is anything amiss.  I've thought of you often lately and have some more suggestions for your quest to regain some weight. Baked potatoes----with REAL sour cream.  I'd have these as an afternoon snack. Easy to pop into the microwave at work. Kraft Easy Mac and Cheese---  individual servings of the stuff in the blue box. Not as good as the real stuff you make from scratch, but it worked as an afternoon snack at work or at home. Fig Newtons---190 cals for two of the  fat free version. I'll keep thinking on this.   Until then, please take care! Hugs

Karen, Aha - I never thought of gall bladder. Sounds about right though. Mine came out in 1990. Pain  was so bad I drooled. Although it was an open surgery, I was only in the hospital for two days.  Because my job was quite physical the doctor kept me out for 3 weeks, just to be safe.  Feel better!!! Annette

Hi Karen, I can't believe my friend is gone. I called her phone today thinking I might be able to hear her voice on the message machine, ( I suppose that was a bit morbid, but I really just wanted to hear her again) and they had already had it disconnected. You, know you may be right about the gallbladder. I know the surgeon said it was "gorgeous" when he went in for the RNY but maybe all the weight loss has affected it, like I have heard sometimes happens. I have lost 3 lbs in the past 4 days and hadn't lost any for about 6 weeks. I know it's just because I can't eat as well. Seems to hurt after I eat more. No nausea... Hope you are feeling better still. Keep us posted on the gallbladder.. Cheryl

Hello Margo and my OFF friends.... We had a great start of the day yesterday, took the family to  the Kickapoo Tribe Powwow in Leroy, Il, Our granddaughters were so facinated, got to touch a "real" buffalo ( a baby) and they got to participate in some of the inter tribal dances, bought some souveniers. At the very start of the ceremony they asked if there were any verterans there and for them to come up to the front. they asked my husband, Earl, retired USMC to be one of the flag bears for the opening ceremony. It was so nice. .They introduced all the veterans there and all the tribal elders went to each vet and thanked them for their service to our country. the hard part for me was eating there. not much too choose from as far as food..had a hot dog for lunch and pizza for dinner. Am paying for it today, my feet and hands are swollen!.We got home just in time to hear the tornado sirens.  Got everyone in the house, the first and closest of 3 nearby tornado**** less than 1/2 mile away. Thank God we were spared any damage. We could see the storms coming in on our way home. In fact 15 minutes after we left the highway the first one touched down and dropped the electrical lines across the exit where we got off. The good Lord was definitely with us, and my wonderful  retired trucker was at the wheel and knew just what to do and.  The one that touched down in Richton Park is 1/2 mile from our house. Daughter #2 and her family were in the restaurant across the street from where the tornado touched down, thank god they are all fine, just lots of damage to the back end of their car. An a/c unit flew into it.   Paulette

OMG it's hot out there-we just tilled two (slim) rows for snap peas and it took everything we both had to finish the second part...allofasudden michael said he had to go inside......he was drenched and rouge red and for all of the water we had put in him i think 3X as much came back out! we want to put two more double rows out there for everything else-cukes tomoatoes herbs zucchini etc but am not too sure when how it will get done-dang it's hot....waited til 4pm to start so wasn't "noonday" sun but holy cripes! 94 * and full sun where we are tilling....there were a few breezes but not enough!with michael having his shoulder surgery tuesday we are kinda under the gun now! i can til it if i just take my time but after awhile it really hurts my arthritic wrist...and that is of course, the wrist that has the little lever that ya have to hold down! ok-done whining thx for listening! i guess i keep thinking about what grammylew said about her son and all of the others fighting in irag and afghanistan and etc...my brother was there-4 times i think- and i just do not understand how their bodies can get used to it...or you folks that live in the desert areas.... oh--g'ma update- talked to mom at noonish-g'ma had one eye open and seemed to know that she was in the hospital-so that is a positive.  your continued prayers are greatly appreciated. i'm off to the showers now...and a tall cold glass of H2O!!!!

I'm going swimming today.  Went and saw my surgeon on Thursday, and he said that I need to get my good colesterol up and that I need to take my exersize to the next level.  My knee hurts so bad soooo I figured i'd start swimming. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.