Hi Kathy; (and everyone else) I too am an avid scrapbooker and on the road to my WLS. I will be seeing Dr Dyer on the 7th of Aug and we will be scheduling my surgery then. I am working on my own album also and have joined a couple of really neat swaps in the weight loss area. I think this is so important to the success of my WLS. I don't have children but I have lots of family and friend pages BUT I never liked to have pages with me on them. Well, I now realize I need to document my life too for my sisters and family and my dear hubby. I know there is not a huge turn around on this site right now but if anyone is interested in swapping weight loss scrapbooking ideas and or layout pieces, such as shakers or paper piecing or anything to do a layout let me know. I have enjoyed this hobby so much because it takes me out of the kitchen and away from the grazing. By the way, the "Creative Memories" purple 7X7 album is so perfect for this kind of creating a memory book. The size is great and there is so much room. I love the idea of having a page for signing. I may have to borrow that idea. I have been told that many who take books and magazines and all with them to the hospital never even open them. Guess what, I have already made up several layout packages in the 2 pound zip like bags to take and if I feel like it I can put them together. I have even made a few of these -minus pics- for friends who have been hospitalized and they really enjoyed working on them. I would love to hear from any of you either on the pre-side of surgery or the post-side. Hugs Barb

Aloha Everyone! My surgery is scheduled for July 7th...and since I am a consultant for Creative Memories, you bet I will HAVE to start a scrapbook. Luckily for me, I had purchased a 7x7 album that we sold as a fundraiser for the alzheimer's association. It is a beautiful purple album and on the cover it has silver foil forget me not flowers, and of course the words below say, "forget me not". It really sets the tone for my scrapbook, as I don't ever want to forget who I was...because I am not going back to this weight again! Either way, I have decided to take my "empty" book with me to the hospital with some of our fine tip pens, so that my visitors will be able to "sign in" and send me a greeting. This way, it will also serve as an "encouragment" book! And of course I will be mapping out my progress through pictures and weight loss information on a month to month basis. So my book will be able to carry me through at least 2 years of my journey. I am very excited to see that so many people are taking the time out to preserve these memories. It will soon become a tool to share with others who may be in need of some information and encouragement. Best wishes to all!

Hi Kathy: I am a avid scrapper and Im going to do a scrapbook of my WLS Journey. Right now I do them for my daughter and of course Im not in very many of the pictures. This is something that I want for me and to share with people that I may help in the future. I will start closer to my surgery date of Aug. 5/03. I plan on taking my camera to the hospital and letting my daughter take the pictures to help include her. She loves the idea. Good luck to you and HAPPY SCRAPPIN. Would love to hear some of your ideas once you start.

I'm also going to do a book about myself. I was thinking it'll be cute/perfect in a 6x6 album, but I also want to begin to take more pictures of me and what I'm going to do with my skinny butt once I'm on the other side! LOL I've always focused on my own children but I want to now make a book of myself so that they will have a record of my life. My mil did one for my dh. It's going to be fun to make something formyself for once!

Hi all, Anybody out there making a scrapbook about there WLS journey! I am. I would love any ideas for pages!