Five-Year Surgiversary!
Aloha Nan......Thank you so much Nan for the sweet words. Your life, too, is an inspiration. When I see your name and picture I think "KIDS" and "FUN" and "SUCCESS." I am a little envious of your closeness with your kids and grands. I love mine so much but see them way too seldom.
Please keep on sharing in here. I love to hear your stories.
Aloha nui loa,
Karen
Please keep on sharing in here. I love to hear your stories.
Aloha nui loa,
Karen
Karen, Karen, how wonderful to see you and CONGRATS!!! As soon as I saw your avitar I smiled!
Five years has certainly gone by quickly, hasn't it? What an amazing ride it's been, and it sounds like you're living your life to the fullest, even if it's a little soggy right now. Are you still testing babies? Will the Kaiser thing be a regular full time gig, or part time? Details, woman....we want details! You've been gone a while, so you need to fill us in. Like I'm one to talk, I hardly ever, ever post anymore.
Again, congratulations on five years of healthy, happy living. Now, on to another 50.....lol
Five years has certainly gone by quickly, hasn't it? What an amazing ride it's been, and it sounds like you're living your life to the fullest, even if it's a little soggy right now. Are you still testing babies? Will the Kaiser thing be a regular full time gig, or part time? Details, woman....we want details! You've been gone a while, so you need to fill us in. Like I'm one to talk, I hardly ever, ever post anymore.
Again, congratulations on five years of healthy, happy living. Now, on to another 50.....lol
Susan
Aloha beautiful Susan!
You are part of the "old" family in here, and I love seeing you post.
Yours has been an amazing ride, for sure, and I think you are very faithful about keeping off the weight in a healthy way. My way isn't always so healthy...I've let a few things creep into my diet that aren't on the "preferred list." Ha. Things like apple pie, or occasionally a blueberry muffin (oh yum!), but I do stop just as soon as I feel sluggish or gain a lb. or two.
Oh, yes, I will still be testing the babies at Maui Memorial Hospital. That part-time job is so life affirming and is early morning always, so shouldn't interfere with the WLS haps that will be later in the day. I'm excited to find out exactly what I'll be doing. I think it will be group, individual therapy and classes on issues like "weight gain and childhood molestation," or "emotional eating" and those along that line. It will also be part time. Our current psychologist is excellent, gentle, supportive, loving and up to date on the latest procedures, etc. However, she has never had a weight problem so can 't possibly know how it FEELS to carry around another person.....Ha.....! I now think as I go up and down stairs that I am no longer carrying the weight of a man (165) on my back! I can "fly" up the stairs.
Sending you a big hug, and so wish I could deliver it in person.
Aloha nui loa,
Karen
You are part of the "old" family in here, and I love seeing you post.
Yours has been an amazing ride, for sure, and I think you are very faithful about keeping off the weight in a healthy way. My way isn't always so healthy...I've let a few things creep into my diet that aren't on the "preferred list." Ha. Things like apple pie, or occasionally a blueberry muffin (oh yum!), but I do stop just as soon as I feel sluggish or gain a lb. or two.
Oh, yes, I will still be testing the babies at Maui Memorial Hospital. That part-time job is so life affirming and is early morning always, so shouldn't interfere with the WLS haps that will be later in the day. I'm excited to find out exactly what I'll be doing. I think it will be group, individual therapy and classes on issues like "weight gain and childhood molestation," or "emotional eating" and those along that line. It will also be part time. Our current psychologist is excellent, gentle, supportive, loving and up to date on the latest procedures, etc. However, she has never had a weight problem so can 't possibly know how it FEELS to carry around another person.....Ha.....! I now think as I go up and down stairs that I am no longer carrying the weight of a man (165) on my back! I can "fly" up the stairs.
Sending you a big hug, and so wish I could deliver it in person.
Aloha nui loa,
Karen
Maui Karen...Happy 5 year Sugiversary!!!
You already live in my dream place....enjoy it for me I doubt I will ever be there again....I will still dream though.
Congrats on your second dream job!! I know how thrilled you were to work with the babies....now with post op WLS patients.....lucky you....you deserve the best!!! I am very happy for you and very proud of the things you have achieved!!
We miss you here daily....pop in a little more often if just to say hello!!
Love to you.....hugs.....connie d
You already live in my dream place....enjoy it for me I doubt I will ever be there again....I will still dream though.
Congrats on your second dream job!! I know how thrilled you were to work with the babies....now with post op WLS patients.....lucky you....you deserve the best!!! I am very happy for you and very proud of the things you have achieved!!
We miss you here daily....pop in a little more often if just to say hello!!
Love to you.....hugs.....connie d
Aloha special, beautiful Connie!
Your face is one of the ones that I always look for. You ARE a constant source of love and support in here, and share so much of your life with all of us. I love hearing your stories, and I quietly say a quick prayer for your loved ones who struggle with life's challenges. Sometimes I don't think we really realize how powerful a group of people saying a prayer to whomever, whatever is their concept of their creator, or a higher power. But I have seen it work over and over, so I am convinced that love and caring for others IS the answer to our lives being rich and hopeful.
Thank you so much for your dear words of encouragement. I do feel tremendous gratitude when I look out the window and see the ocean, and our own volcano in the background, Haleakela. Today we have gentle tradewinds and around 80 degrees. I forget often to be thankful for just this beauty that surrounds me. Wonderful things happen here....like our resident turtle "Maui Girl" who comes every other year to lay her eggs down near Lahaina. She has a "fan club" of people who keep others away from her so she has privacy, and who ask that lights be turned out at night because the babies, when they hatch, go for the light and we want them to find the ocean not the lighted roadway. Many good people have taken the hatchlings from the roadways down into the ocean to begin their lives in these gorgeous waters. Please do come back someday!
Sending a big hug, Connie. Thanks for all YOU do.
Aloha nui loa,
Karen
Your face is one of the ones that I always look for. You ARE a constant source of love and support in here, and share so much of your life with all of us. I love hearing your stories, and I quietly say a quick prayer for your loved ones who struggle with life's challenges. Sometimes I don't think we really realize how powerful a group of people saying a prayer to whomever, whatever is their concept of their creator, or a higher power. But I have seen it work over and over, so I am convinced that love and caring for others IS the answer to our lives being rich and hopeful.
Thank you so much for your dear words of encouragement. I do feel tremendous gratitude when I look out the window and see the ocean, and our own volcano in the background, Haleakela. Today we have gentle tradewinds and around 80 degrees. I forget often to be thankful for just this beauty that surrounds me. Wonderful things happen here....like our resident turtle "Maui Girl" who comes every other year to lay her eggs down near Lahaina. She has a "fan club" of people who keep others away from her so she has privacy, and who ask that lights be turned out at night because the babies, when they hatch, go for the light and we want them to find the ocean not the lighted roadway. Many good people have taken the hatchlings from the roadways down into the ocean to begin their lives in these gorgeous waters. Please do come back someday!
Sending a big hug, Connie. Thanks for all YOU do.
Aloha nui loa,
Karen
Karen..I can vividly picture the areas you have described. That island is forever etched in my mind. Such peace and beauty .....it just took my breathe away. Thank you for sharing parts of the beauty with me.
Thank you too for the kind words....I feel the same way about you. You have always been such an inspiration to me.
We do have a very special bond here on OFF. I feel thankful and blessed for all the wonderful people here. Prayers are powerful....we have all been blessed in so many ways. As for love and caring we definitely have plenty of that here as well!!
I wish you the very best....glad to know you are lurking and keeping up with us. You sure are missed!!!
Love and hugs....connie d
Thank you too for the kind words....I feel the same way about you. You have always been such an inspiration to me.
We do have a very special bond here on OFF. I feel thankful and blessed for all the wonderful people here. Prayers are powerful....we have all been blessed in so many ways. As for love and caring we definitely have plenty of that here as well!!
I wish you the very best....glad to know you are lurking and keeping up with us. You sure are missed!!!
Love and hugs....connie d
Aloha Eliza......Thank you so much for the congrats. I see you are coming up on your own WLS adventure beginning. I remember clearly 5 plus years ago waiting for the green light to have my surgery. I had to wait a long time, and was so ready to go. You have an unbelievable journey ahead of you. Please be sure to take lots of pictures now, measure yourself, and write it all down so that you can keep track of your "metamorphasis." I look back on my "BIG Pictures" and can't believe it is the same woman.
I kept a daily workbook with what I ate, the calories, the fat, the carbs and that really kept me on track for the first couple of years. Then it became habit. Always drink LOTS OF WATER...I do that to this day. I never leave home without my water jug.
Good luck and you have a spot with your name on it on the "Loser's Bench." It is a great place to go after surgery.
Aloha nui loa,
Karen
I kept a daily workbook with what I ate, the calories, the fat, the carbs and that really kept me on track for the first couple of years. Then it became habit. Always drink LOTS OF WATER...I do that to this day. I never leave home without my water jug.
Good luck and you have a spot with your name on it on the "Loser's Bench." It is a great place to go after surgery.
Aloha nui loa,
Karen
Karen 
Congratulations ... for EVERYTHING. Success never comes without hard work and determination. Over the years you have demonstrated all that and more. Even so, you have taken the time to share your knowledge and warmth to us.
Kaiser will be enriched having you on board. Having first hand experience with WLS gives you much needed insight to help others.
Reading your posting gave me a warm fuzzy feeling. I am proud to have you as part of my OFF family.
A great big HUG to you.
Annette
Congratulations ... for EVERYTHING. Success never comes without hard work and determination. Over the years you have demonstrated all that and more. Even so, you have taken the time to share your knowledge and warmth to us.
Kaiser will be enriched having you on board. Having first hand experience with WLS gives you much needed insight to help others.
Reading your posting gave me a warm fuzzy feeling. I am proud to have you as part of my OFF family.
A great big HUG to you.
Annette
Annette 
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