Aloha from your Hawaiian bad girl......stepping out of the shadows!

Aloha my friends, old and new in OFF,

I have felt so guilty about just coming in and reading about all your lives and not sharing mine or responding to all the things happening in yours.

I celebrated Candy's retirement, felt sadness at the pain and suffering of some of you, felt joy when some talked about children, their gardens, their animals, and their successes, and felt glad when new people came in and joined this wonderful little family.

My life after WLS is now A LIFE!! I've joined a couple of groups....and am an "angel" for a young woman who is going to have surgery in a few months. Some people are struggling with regain, and that is always a challenge but one that can be overcome.

My weight stays in the 155 to 170 range (I'm 5'11" tall)....only hitting 170 briefly and sliding back down to 161 a couple days later. My surgeon really plumbed me good, and I can basically eat anything and not gain. I only gain when I try to, and eat bad stuff! I don't like to do that because it's not healthy, but sometimes I don't like looking at my bones, either.

I'm still working testing newborns' hearing at the hospital, and loving it. I am lucky enough to get to meet and green many of the new arrivals on Maui and spend a few minutes with them all to myself! I figure in the 2.5 years I've been doing this I have held, snugged and tested around 2000 babies.....from 4.3 lbs. (my smallest to 10.0 lbs. my largest). They are all wonderful to me, and make me remember vividly when my own two sons were born many years ago. It also makes me miss my three little grandsons, Brock (5) Brady (4) and Zane(2) a little less.

Maui's winter was actually chilly.....and I wore jackets a lot, believe it or not. It finally is getting warm again and almost time to take the blanket off my bed and just have a sheet and cover. I LOVE winter here.......day and night close to the same temperature....around 65-75, and very little rain, so little that we are all delighted when it comes now and then.

There are so many of you that I really miss.........and whose e-mails I've lost when my computer crashed. So, please send me your e-mail addresses so I won't lose track of you. Mine is: [email protected]

So sorry for the neglect....I will try to be a better sister. You are all welcome to give me a big THWACK ....I deserve it.

Here's hoping something magic happens for each of you today. It's only 11:30 a.m. in Hawaii, but I know the day is almost over for those of you on the east coast...six hours later I believe.

Sending a warm hug and my most sincere hope that your life leads you to whatever place you long to be.

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen

Hi Karen,

So very happy you stopped in to say hi. I've missed you so much!  How wonderful for you that your days are so fiiled with busy, happy things.

I SO can't believe it's been 2.5 years already that you've had your job at the hospital. Where on earth does time go? They're very lucky to have you.

Okay, off to go watch the radar maps. You take care, and please don't be such a stranger!

Aloha sweetie....Thanks for the kind words. I have been keeping you in my heart the last few days, knowing that you are in danger. I sure hope that is past. My friend's sister lives in Arkansas and so far has been lucky, too.

I know what you mean about how long I've been testing babies........the time just flies when we are on the "senior" part of our journey, huh!! I don't like it!! Ha.

With much aloha,\

MKaren

thwack?????????????? i don't think so!!!! more like a hug!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
so glad to see you post!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aloha dear Margo.....Thank you for the HUG......love those hugs. I have been following your adventures, and am so happy that you have foun d work that seems satisfying. I still hope one day you might get to Hawaii and be just an island away.

Stay happy. Oh, yours is one of the e-mail addresses I lost in my computer crash. Would love to have it again.

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen

ahh sweet sista ...i will send the email...

i am afraid that michael may be relocating without me within a few weeks...he and my brother had an altercation to almost end all and i think he is leaving.....i truly do not know how i feel about it or how he will survive alone there now....

i need to keep my feet planted, for now...tho i still dream aloha.....can't have both the plumeria and the pines and what they offer!

Aloha again sweetie.......I am sorry to hear the shaky condition of your living situation. You are going about it the right way IMHO....keeping yourself centered, and taking one day at a time. I tend to WAY OVER THINK everything and end up often worrying for nothing. I could have used those days for something productive instead of stressed to the max.

Good luck to you, my friend. It will all turn out for the best. You are STRONG. But, let others help you, too!!

With much aloha,

OX

Maui Karen

Maui does get a grip on one doesn't it? Can you believe next month will be a year since Coleen and I were there and I believe 3 since Mike and I were there. . . I'm missing that beautiful paradise. So good to hear an update on you. I'm happy that you are busy and happy. I know it was a long winter even in paradise.

Aloha my friend........Wow...a year since you and Coleen were here? Again, time flies.

And, 3 years since you and Mike were here.....yikes. My treasured walking stick sits right beside my front door, and is one of my favorite treasures ever.

Have fun in your garden. Would love to see a picture of your home someday, and your garden.

Aloha nui loa,

MKaren

Karen,

I thought about you a lot yesterday.  We were stationed in HI for 4 years a LONG time ago.  Kids were in elementary school. I remember that 'May day is lei day in Hawaii.' The kids always had a school program.

Good to hear from you again.  Sounds like you are doing well.  Keep on keepin' on.