Penni60

As I rejoice in my own mother's recovery process, I learn of a good friend of mine whose mother is on her death bed. She has fought the good fight of Pancreatic Cancer for the last 8 months. Jan, good friend, just informed me that she is at home with her mother and Hospice has been there and they don't expect her mother to last through the night. Please keep her in your prayers. Thank you so much for all your kindness and caring.

Trish I do this exercise and it seems to help. Standing beside a dresser or a chair grab a hold with your hand for support. Lift your leg out to the side then bring it in and cross over your foot that is on the floor. Make sure you hold in your stomach (don't hold your breath just pull in your stomach) while doing this exercise. I do it for a count of 5 to 10 for each leg. Another exercise you can do while lying in bed or on the floor whichever is easier. Lie on your side. Take our top leg and bend it over your bottom leg. Lift the lower leg while keeping your stomach pulled in this will help stabilize you. I do this for a count of 5 to 10 for each leg.

Got it Rica. THanks

Still out on the road so no weigh in for me this week. I will check in next week hopefully.

Go to Target or Walmart and get you some dumbells. They are inexpensive and can work the heck outta your arms. Then get an exercise ball same place. That works wonders for the abs. Then get a 20 min Pilates DVD and a mat to go with. THat will take care of the rest of your body. All that can be bought for around $100 to $150 maybe less. The least expensive way to exercise is also to go walking. Take two bottles of Water with you for weights for your arms. Do lunges when you are walking for your legs. Hope this helps.

I think Sharon had the Vertical Bypass banding. It is a modified banding bypass operation. There is stapling of the stomach and a pouch is made. So it stands to reason her's would be that much and she most likely had it done years ago before it was perfected.

yup Hiccups are a sign I am full. If I eat another bite I will be sorry. LOL!! They go away on their own though.

I put labels on the first set of pics.

LOOK at those bandsters!!! WOW!! Good luck to you all. Please come and let us know how you are all doing.

Crystal and Christina: SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! You are blowing my cover. Geez can't even get good spies these days. LOL!!! I can attest that those pics of my scars really don't show them well but it was all I had at the time. Just come and see them in Vegas in Sept. LOL!! Is it SEPTEMBER YET???

The actual size of the needle is about 2 inches long. The diameter is about the size of an IV needle. The pain is very minimal and reminds me of a bee sting that continues for about a full minute. At least that is what is seems like to me. The pain is very minimal. The doc can use a numbing agent where the needle goes in but if I am gonna get stuck then ONE needle is fine with me. LOL!!! I have had three fills and all three were with minimal pain. You should be fine.

Yup I am the responsible party for the pics. LOL!!

Robbin I am gonna email you.

Kathy I am no expert but it almost looks like the band is too high up on the stomach. IT looks like it is right at the opening between the stomach and the esophagus. That would mean it has slipped or it was not placed properly. Again I am no expert but that is my humble opinion.

As much as you can I think you need to get up and walk around. I will continue to keep you in my prayers. I am so sorry for all your issues but it sounds like you are on the road to weight loss now. Keep us posted. HUGS

I have both a ball and an ab lounger. I love them both and they are great for ab crunches.

Vera: You are in my thoughts and prayers. Hope things go your way. HUGE HUGS!!

Pretty funny. We had this beautiful black cocker spaniel once. The way my grandmothers farm house was designed the fireplace was in the center of the house and when you had it roaring it would heat the living room, bedroom, and the kitchen all at the same time. By the way, when you walk in the front door to your right was the HUGE open bedroom that held two double beds and to your left was the HUGE living room/office/sewing room. Then they got a coal burning stove and closed off the fireplace. Anyway, the way the house was set up you could run in circles. Start in the living room, kitchen, back porch, then bedroom and back ot the living room. So one day my sister and I were bored. We started chasing each other in this circle. My grandmother was laughing so hard at us. She just said "be careful darlins." Our cocker spaniel, "PUP" started chasing us. We would run and when we would get to the living room we would run and jump on the couch and he would jump up there too. One time he didn't quite make the jump and ran smack into the couch head first. He stopped looked up at us and then started yelping. We ran to him and hugged him and cried and he barked then licked us and then took off running. He stopped looked back at us to see if we were coming. He faked us out. Smart doggie. He has gone to the doggie heaven now.

OK Teresa I think it is time we saw a before and after pic of you. Send me some and I will put them side by side for you. And yes if I have anymore I will certainly keep you in mind. I do need your shipping address though. SO send the shipping address and the pics in an email to Penni60@aol.com

UPDATE: Took Mom to see her doctor for a check up after her hospital stay. Her stomach issues and the diverticulitis is in remission for now. We all know it can flare up again but we can deal with it if it does. But for now she is in no pain from that. Her blood pressure is doing great. I took it while we were in the doctor's office and it was GREAT. The only thing bothering her now is her sciatica. GRRRRRRRRRR!!! She had to get a muscle relaxor prescription. They gave her a shot of Tordol while we were there. She also has not been sleeping lately. So they gave her a prescription for Ambien as well. I took her home then I went and filled the prescriptions for her. I asked the pharmacist if she had a bill there. She did. So I paid that bill and paid for the muscle relaxor and the Ambien as well. I felt it was my duty as her daughter to pay her bill. I also told them to call me if she has another bill run up like that. The other day I took her to get her hair done. She goes once a week. She has in the past not gone because she couldn't afford it. SIGH!! So I pulled aside her hair dresser and told her I want to pay for a full year's worth of hair appts. The hair dresser owns the place and I have known her for over 20 years. So, $1000 later Mom can get three perms and all the hair appts she needs for a full year. It felt good to be able to do that for her. I called Mom yesterday and she is still in some pain but the Flexeril, muscle relaxor, is helping. The ambien is helping her sleep as well. She said she hasn't had that good a night's sleep in ages. Thank you all so much for your concern and prayers. HUGS

UPDATE: Funeral was yesterday. I called my daughter to check up on all of them. Jacob was there and he was laughing in the background. Erin, my daughter, said he was doing OK. He would be fine one minute then he would be bawling his eyes out the next. But for the most part he seems to be doing OK. He buried the stuffed animal with Amber. I think that was so sweet. After all the services were done and everyone went their separate ways, Erin suggested they all return to the gravesite and have a special private moment their with her friends and Jacob. I think that was the smartest thing they could have done. Erin said Jacob was much better after they did that. He was more calm and seemed to accept it more. I have a smart daughter. She is adjusting as well to the loss. Her voice sounds brighter and better. I get a sense of acceptance when I talk with her now that wasn't there before. Thank you all again for the expressions of sympathy and concern. HUGS to you all.

Hey Zoe: thanks for the encouragment and advice. I am planning on doing a WOG and walk type approach to the marathon. Maybe I can get my endurance built up for the Los Angeles Marathon for next year. LOL!! HUGS

Kathy: I am so sorry for all you have gone through thus far. I feared it is slippage but be thankful it can be fixed if it is. I will keep you in my prayers. Please do come and let us know as soon as you can. HUGS!!!

Kathy: I am starting to get really worried now. Come and check in and let us know you are ok. HUGS!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARIE!!!!!!!!!!! Hope your special day is truly everything you hoped for and more. Here is wishing you many more special days.