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OMGoodness!!!!! Lisa, Ace and KATHARINE were the bottom 3!!!!!!!!!! Did anyone else notice that Katharine was having a hard time holding back the tears??? She was sitting there so confident - just knowing it would be Buckey that was chosen for the bottom 3.... ha! Its gonna make her work harder. Like i said, her song choices are getting boring.

Hey Kathy! Hows the deed going with the cutie pie??? When I look at his picture up there, he makes me giggle. He is so cute! Makes me want to suck his cheeks in a big wet kiss!!

Kelly, I heard Ryan say that too, but I thought (hoping) he was joking. Titanic songs? ...and we thought this week was boring!

What I understood about last night was that the song choices they chose were the styles they normally sing/feel most comfortable doing. Mandesa - Gospel Chris - hard rock Taylor - blues They gave the contestants a HUGE song selection to chose from. Its only natural that they chose what they KNEW they could do well. I honestly think it was a poor decision made by the producers(?) to chose that song gender - then slam the contestants for making "bad song choices". Over all, I enjoyed Taylor the most (vocally), and disliked Lisa the most. And I know Katharine has this amazing voice, but she is somewhat getting boring to me with her softy song selections. She kinda reminds me of a young Barbara Streisand. I love B.S.'s voice, but her music is a little on the boring side. Different strokes for different folks. And I agree, Ace went a little overboard with the scar thing. The teen fans that were following Chicken Little will most likely *now* fall in love with Ace. Seeing that what he did was a little on the immature side. Hope Lisa's packed up ~

Kathy, This is getting really scarey. The same task has just been accomplished over here. Philip has been in "big boy underpants" for a full 7 (maybe 8 now) days. He was 3 in December. He hasnt wet at night (in his diaper) for months now - Super Nanny says thats your first sign that they are ready. Last Sunday I started priming him up - telling him that he was going to start tee-teeing in the BIG potty, like Daddy and Bubba come tomorrow. So, Monday morning (during the rat race of getting kids off to school) we were loading into the van and I coaxed him into teeing in the grass, next to the driveway... Reminding him that TODAY was the big day to start this new way to potty. That was the beginning. When I dressed him for the day, I put "big boy underpants" on him - and asked him about every 30 minutes if he needed to go potty. That afternoon we went to Walmart and let him pick out new underware - he thought that was neat. That afternoon, he had 2 accidents. He is into monster trucks, atv's, anything with big wheels. So that was another way we bribed him (Hotwheel monster trucks $ 2.97 at Walmart). Since we had a bit of a problem with the #2 - weve had to buy about 3 new toys..... But its been a success. At this point, he goes to the bathroom by himself. No accident since Wednesday. Oh, but this DID happened... Saturday night we brought the kids to play PuttPutt. While we were playing, I noticed this lady on another coarse looking in our direction with a STRANGE expression on her face. My God! Philip had his pants down to his knees, peeing right there in the grass. (this is NOT a practice in our home) ok, that wasnt bad enough. We were nearly to the last coarse and Philip became missing. Mike spotted him off in a distance... once again with the pants dropped to the knees. This time it was #2. I didnt know if I needed to laugh or cry. Just pump him up on being like Dad - and wearing BIG underware like the rest of the family. Good luck... and I say a prayer for you and him. ((my boys were waaaay easier then my girl))

:spy: shhhhhhh, **whisper voice** Y'all cant see me. Im here spying on Kathy/Best Me... checking out her stat's - making sure she hasnt posted a lower weight. :spy:

of coarse we did!!! GREAT pics, BTW! So, how'd ya like my good ole' Louisiana weather? This wasnt your first time in La. was it? Did you get to eat any yummy cajun dishes?? ...gumbo? What about crawfish (theyre in season right now)?

Hey Susan ~ WELCOME to LBT! I was banded by Spiegel in July of 04. Ive done fairly well, just hope my journey isnt over yet. Does stress cause restriction??? hahaha ~ other then PMS, thats my #1 reason I get the choked feeling! Were sitting at the dinner table, everthing's going fine (food wise). Kids start fussing, then husband chimes in. Next thing I know -BAM- I have to start taking breaths and walk around for a minute. Most of the time it goes away. But to answer your question, YES! Stress can cause restricion. Actually lots of things can cause rectriction. Dont forget, after your food comes up - try going back to liquids for a while. Good luck, and again WELCOME!

Mary, Yikes! That's alot of cash ($274 pr month). My best advice is to call your pharmisict (or make a trip to see him/her) and get HIS opinion. These folks know medications, how each affect the body AND the prices - this is their job! phew... $274 bucks??? Thats a car note. PLEASE tell me you had some type of ins to help you pay on this... please.

Good for you Margo! Oh wait! Youve lost 67 pounds in 7 months??? Holy cow girl ~ dont know what YOU call it, but to me, looks like youve already been kicking a$$!!!

Look at this??? All these friends wouldve missed your awesome NSV - if you wouldnt have started your own thread. Thank you, Mom! ***BTW: How is MiMi??***

Megan, We needed to hear some good news around here! Congrat's on the re-dedication. Thats a great thing that the band (a fill) gives us, a chance to start over our failed eating habits!

Susan, that boy is B E A U T I F U L. My goodness, he looks like a baby model. Im sure youre not very proud. :biggrin1: Penni - Where the heck have you been??? Ive been doing good with the food list you gave. Chosing to eat things on the list - instead of what my head wants. Know what? my head hunger isnt as bad as it has been. Thank you again.

You mean THATS not part of the decor??? hehe Glad you are home, but most MOST importantly - SAFE! The only other way the road trip wouldve been better is if you'd had MY 3 kids in the back seat whinning/fighting/spitting/yelling/killing each other ~WITH MIL in the front seat.... for 14 hours. :biggrin1: :biggrin1: :biggrin1:

Leatha, Youve given me a lump in my throat. That has to be one the most moving post Ive ever read. No joking. When we learn to give God the glory (not ourselves) ~ all of our struggles become so meaningful! Im so happy I could just squeeze you! And about your yard.... your pond area looks so peaceful. Reminds me of a prayer garden. Beautiful, simply beautiful.

I think LBT should start a Surgeons Q & A forum. I hate the thought of asking this question on Tracey Anderson's post - but its the place where our good house Doc may surface. Dr. Pleatman, If a patient has band removal due to erosion (or esophageal issues - as Leatha mentioned), would the GBP be able to be performed at the same time as removal? (I guess it would depend on the severity of the erosion??) Also, could you give us some links to info about the Gastric Sleeve. One more... Would (or Could) the GS be classified as a GBP for insurance to cover the procedure?

continuing the chant.... Pictures! Pictures! Pictures! Pictures! please??

Maggie, thanks for bringing this thread back up. You are right, these mom's are smart! Another idea to share is that we have very little food rewarding for bribes (yes, I bribe MY kids all the time). Their rewards are usually a cheap-o Walmart toy, going on a certain outting, something like this - instead of ice cream or other food/sweet treats. Kathy, I read around in your link. Good tips in there! Thanks. I need to spend more time re-reading it. Kryssa, this is SO impressive. Especially these days. You get 4 gold star for that. Honestly, Im impressed!

Wait a minute... did I read that you are RUNNING??? OMG - thats awesome!!! To be able to RUN (not walk) is classified as an advanced NSV. Listen up scale watchers (myself included): Lapband success isnt measured in scales alone. This post proves it! :biggrin1: And I love what you said about being able to wear stylish clothes now. How true, how true!

Leatha, Youve given me a lump in my throat. That has to be one the most moving post Ive ever read. No joking. When we learn to give God the glory (not ourselves) ~ all of our struggles become so meaningful! Im so happy I could just squeeze you! And Im with Kathy - you are too popular of a bandster to be hiding in Kathy's thread! You deserve you own NSV thread.

Woah... now that calls for a high-five! :clap2: Its these kinds of stories that make me smile! Way to go!!!

Anyone have a delish Sweet and Sour Chicken receipe???

Ha! Dody - you know IM gonna try em. Gone to Walmart later, and definately going to find them. Thanks for the tip!

What fun ~ You ALL look GREAT!!! Sure wish I was there. BTW - Who's gonna do the new avators for all of you? LBT NEEDS avators - especially updated ones! yoohooo, JanetC?????

Yep! I have BC/BS Fed. When I was banded, we had First Health. They paid for banding surgery - and fills were only my co-pay fee. Nice, huh? Then we switched to BC/BS 6 months later. And yep, thats right, AGB is NOT covered. Ive called and asked (pleaded) many times - hopeing that since I already had the band - that they would pay for fills/unfills. But nope! NOW! Here's the bullseye... IF you are already banded and you develop problems - they will pay for testing. And just like others have said, if you need your band removed, then there is a way you can be admitted through ER and BCBS should cover removal. Alot of it has to do with proper coding too.