CrochetGranny

SHESHEGIRL, here's my take on what I've tried so far: 1) Muscle Milk Light - chocolate mint flavor: pretty good, tastes like chocolate milk, couldn't taste much mint flavor, but that's ok. Buy it at Walgreens. 2) EAS AdvantEdge Carb Control choclate flavor - ok, thicker, but not as good as #1 - bought it at Walmart. I have the strawberry, but haven't tried it yet. 3) unjury unflavored Protein (used it in chicken broth) - EXCELLENT!! Just tasted the chicken broth, no taste of the protein (no nasty smell either) Get it at Unjury.com I ordered several sample packets and they came REALLY quick. 4) Syntrax nectar Lemon Tea flavor - three words for this: NASTY NASTY NASTY!!!! Tastes and SMELLS AWFUL! Came in my sample pak from BariatricEating.com I have 17 more samples from this pak to try. I poured 1/3 of this bad boy down the drain. Was trying to force it down because 'I paid good money for it' and realized this was part of my eating problem - EAT IT ALL since you paid for it!! No need to gag down nasty ones when there are really good ones you can tolerate!! I will post more 'reviews' on the additional ones in my sample paks if ya want me to.

Sounds great, can't wait to try it. I LOVE salsa. areellady, since this is a marinade, it probably isn't going to absorb all that oil.

Well, my first big bike excursion (after several months of little or no exercise) lasted all of two minutes, yes I mean 2 minutes, before I was huffing and puffing. Next one four minutes, four minutes of rest, then four more riding. I have a cheapy Walmart 7 speed that looks similar to the giant with big handlebars and big tires. If and when I get a little better I hope to get a better one. I wanted a Giant to begin with but wanted to make sure I would use it first (which I didn't to begin with). There is a Landrider showing on TV infomercial right now that is an automatic transmission - anyone heard of it? Well, I am going to try for 10 minutes today!! I live in the country and can't go far without going up and down some minor inclines. I have coronary artery disease as well as a right knee replacement a couple years ago. The knee is doing fine but have to take it easy on the old ticker to get it built up gradually. My second excursion (8 minutes) took me a total of approximately 1 mile, so those who say they started at 3 miles - I am jealous! Of course, I'm also an old fart of 59 so maybe you younger ones have an advantage there. EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES - I know I need to just get out and DO IT!!

Hi all, I can't WAIT to have bigger clothes to give away. The last time I lost weight I got rid of all my bigger clothes (thought it was incentive to NOT gain the weight back - didn't work ). My DH gave me several 'digs' about my giving those bigger size clothes away and then having to go out and buy more. But they are DEFINITELY GOING this time regardless of what he says!! I am in a 24 now and have clothes down to a size 16 (I think - or did I also give those smaller sizes away too???) Oh well, it'll be fun buying smaller sizes.

I don't call this 'SUPPORT'. I chose lapband (although I haven't had it yet) because I didn't want the risk and non-reversible consequences of bypass. Also, I need to lose about 115 pounds, don't know if this is enough to consider bypass, but I tell you I did not even CONSIDER it - guess I'm too big a chickenshit. I had a rough time choosing even the lapband, but I realize I NEED it; I cannot do this on my own, but I am sure I can with a little support - like the lapband. My suggestion, for whatever it's worth, is to get yourself to a group meeting that IS a support meeting for lapband patients, or get your support here on the forum. That is, unless you are strong enough to continue going to meetings and be a SHINING EXAMPLE of how good lapband CAN be.

So far, 1) I LOVE the unflavored Unjury in chicken broth 2) Like the Muscle Milk light chocolate mint pretty good 3) EAS AdvantEdge chocolate - eh, ok, but not as good as #2 4) Syntrax Nectar Lemon Tea - three words for this NASTY NASTY NASTY. This was in my Bariatric Eating sample pak. I got the new shaker and when I first starting drinking from it thought, didn't wash this shaker good enough, it has a nasty smell - poured it into a regular cup - it ain't the shaker, it's the Lemon Tea. I'm trying to get it down because I paid good money for it (oh oh - just realized this has always been my attitude with food, NEED TO GET RID OF THIS ATTITUDE!!!) It's also a reason I've gone off diets of this type before, because I couldn't stand the shake mix. No need to drink the nasty stuff when you know there's good stuff out there you CAN tolerate. Well, today and tomorrow then I start the REAL pre-op diet. I've done pretty good on this but have been eating one regular meal instead of the frozen diet meal. I think I can stay on it pretty good. I think I can also eat regular food in place of the frozen diet meal if I do just a very small meat and a vegetable similar to what would be in the frozen meal. This will help if I need to eat out during this two week period. I haven't been a bit hungry :clap2:- except for that 'head' hunger' and I satisfied it with a sugarfree popsicle. My list doesn't say I can have sugarfree jello so I will need to ask about this at my pre-op appointment Thursday. Better start a list on questions or my CRS will kick in and when they ask if I have any questions I'll say DUH, can't think of any. :car:

So far, 1) I LOVE the unflavored Unjury in chicken broth 2) Like the Muscle Milk light chocolate mint pretty good 3) EAS AdvantEdge chocolate - eh, ok, but not as good as #2 4) Syntrax Nectar Lemon Tea - three words for this NASTY NASTY NASTY. This was in my Bariatric Eating sample pak. I got the new shaker and when I first starting drinking from it thought, didn't wash this shaker good enough, it has a nasty smell - poured it into a regular cup - it ain't the shaker, it's the Lemon Tea. I'm trying to get it down because I paid good money for it (oh oh - just realized this has always been my attitude with food, NEED TO GET RID OF THIS ATTITUDE!!!) It's also a reason I've gone off diets of this type before, because I couldn't stand the shake mix. No need to drink the nasty stuff when you know there's good stuff out there you CAN tolerate. Well, today and tomorrow then I start the REAL pre-op diet. I've done pretty good on this but have been eating one regular meal instead of the frozen diet meal. I think I can stay on it pretty good. I think I can also eat regular food in place of the frozen diet meal if I do just a very small meat and a vegetable similar to what would be in the frozen meal. This will help if I need to eat out during this two week period. I haven't been a bit hungry :clap2:- except for that 'head' hunger' and I satisfied it with a sugarfree popsicle. My list doesn't say I can have sugarfree jello so I will need to ask about this at my pre-op appointment Thursday. Better start a list on questions or my CRS will kick in and when they ask if I have any questions I'll say DUH, can't think of any.

Hi, I got some Muscle Milk and Muscle Milk Light at Walgreens and I like them. They are low carb, low sugar and high protein. I got the chocolate and it's pretty good. I also got some Unjury unflavored protein from Unjury.com and mixed it with chicken broth and it tastes good too - just tasts like chicken broth. I also ordered a sample pak from BariatricEating.com and it has some good-sounding samples in it, but I haven't tried them yet. Hopefully, you'll be moving on to more solid foods in a few days, but you might check into this stuff. I don't like a lot of the protein drinks either. "CrochetGranny" - Edith

Did good on my pre-op yesterday until last night when I was to have 3 cups popcorn. Popped 2 bags (1 for hubby, 1 for me) thinking a bag was 3 cups (NOT!!!) Ate the whole bag anyway. As I said, this is just a test drive, the real thing starts July 5. Loving the chicken broth with unflavored Unjury protein in it - I know I will get tired of all those sweet shakes. Also had a EAS AdvantEdge in chocolate, prefer the Muscle Milk. Bought skim milk today, so am going to try the Unjury flavored tomorrow. Found Better than Boullion at Walmart today too, so my next chicken broth will be with it - heard good reports on it here on the forum. I ordered a sample pak from BariatricEating.com; according to the tracking number, it should be here tomorrow - so I should have lots more goodies to sample. (At least I HOPE they're goodies!!)

Did good on my pre-op yesterday until last night when I was to have 3 cups popcorn. Popped 2 bags (1 for hubby, 1 for me) thinking a bag was 3 cups (NOT!!!) Ate the whole bag anyway. As I said, this is just a test drive, the real thing starts July 5. Loving the chicken broth with unflavored Unjury protein in it - I know I will get tired of all those sweet shakes. Also had a EAS AdvantEdge in chocolate, prefer the Muscle Milk. Bought skim milk today, so am going to try the Unjury flavored tomorrow. Found Better than Boullion at Walmart today too, so my next chicken broth will be with it - heard good reports on it here on the forum. I ordered a sample pak from BariatricEating.com; according to the tracking number, it should be here tomorrow - so I should have lots more goodies to sample. (At least I HOPE they're goodies!!)

Hi, maybe you should reconsider not buying things you can just grab and eat, and do exactly the opposite. I also do not want to cook, and want to just grab something and eat it. So buy those things you can just grab and eat with a minimum of work - Lean Cuisine Spa Cuisine frozen meals for example, are low carb and high protein. I love chicken broth with a scoop of unjury unflavored protein in it - can't stand drinking the sweet protein stuff all the time. I am not banded yet, but on the pre-op diet. I feel for you and all you're going thru - I have many of the same thoughts myself, and want this surgery to work so much for me. Hang in there, I think you can do it!!!!! Edith

I think the operative words in WASA's post for the Cookies N Cream were "help to provide the extra-calories that you need to put on the added pounds you want" - in other words, this particular drink is to help you GAIN weight. I'm not banded yet, but my doctor's instructions for Protein drinks are ones that contain 10-15 grams carbs, less than 10 grams of sugar and less than 200 calories. I think you will get some great advice from WASA BB, even though her tone may be pretty straight-forward. I totally understand about the exercise thing too - I dusted off my bicycle yesterday and rode all of 2 MINUTES, but today I managed 8 (but I had to ride 4, rest 4 and ride 4 again). This is probably really frustrating for all us newbies, but I guess we need to READ, READ, READ the labels of everything we buy. I am just starting my pre-op diet and trying to get all the right Protein Drinks is a pain!!

Hi Sunshinesonya, Yes, that will be fine with me. I started 'easing into' my pre-op diet this morning with a Muscle Milk Light. It was ok, tasted like chocolate milk. I am going to try to do another shake for lunch, and then eat a light supper. (My plan calls for a frozen meal, but I may not do that yet). My actual pre-op diet starts July 5th, that lets me eat what I want on July 4th. Feel free to PM me anytime. It seems that the doctors really vary what they prescribe for a pre-op diet!!

This morning I started my pre-op diet early. At my consultation I weighed 243. at home and 246.5 at the doctors (June 21); this morning I weighed 241.5. I drank a Muscle Milk Light for breakfast in chocolate mint flavor. Didn't taste the mint much; just tasted like chocolate milk but maybe a little 'heavier' texture. I think it'll be okay. Got my bicycle out yesterday and raised the handlebars (kept bumping them with my knees, and I'm SHORT), aired up the tires, fixed the seat so it would quit flipping my butt backwards. Then I rode it a total of 2 minutes and was huffing and puffing!! Oh well, it's a start. Then did about 30 minutes of mowing with the push mower. Hopefully I can ride the bike 5 minutes or longer today!!

This morning I started my pre-op diet early. At my consultation I weighed 243. at home and 246.5 at the doctors (June 21); this morning I weighed 241.5. I drank a Muscle Milk Light for breakfast in chocolate mint flavor. Didn't taste the mint much; just tasted like chocolate milk but maybe a little 'heavier' texture. I think it'll be okay. Got my bicycle out yesterday and raised the handlebars (kept bumping them with my knees, and I'm SHORT), aired up the tires, fixed the seat so it would quit flipping my butt backwards. Then I rode it a total of 2 minutes and was huffing and puffing!! Oh well, it's a start. Then did about 30 minutes of mowing with the push mower. Hopefully I can ride the bike 5 minutes or longer today!!

I am not banded yet but I can tell you that severe pain in the middle of the chest can be caused by the heart. So if it's pretty severe, call your surgeon or get yourself to the emergency room. Better to be safe than sorry!! Hope all turns out well for you.

Hi all, I will be banded July 20, should start my pre-op diet July 5 but am going to start 'easing into it' tomorrow. (My liver is probably one big fatty one!!) My preop diet consists of 3 low-carb Protein supplement drinks (or 2 and 3 cups unbuttered popcorn), 1 snack consisting of 6 oz tomato juice or 6 oz light Vitamin C rich juice, and one frozen meal (with less than 200 calories and 20 grams carbs) such as Lean Cuisine, Smart One or South Beach. Will go for my pre-op visit July 5, so if any modifications are in order I'll find about it then. I was on Optifast several years ago for about 5 months, so hopefully I'll be able to handle this!! Good luck to everyone.

I had a comment asking why my doctors weren't encouraging about the surgery. My cardiologist said 'you can eat thru the band if you want to'. I replied that I knew that; that I had been researching it for several weeks, and that I was aware of the ways the band could be defeated. My primary care physician is a very caring physician, and one of the very few who doesn't throw pills at every ailment you have. She is a very strong believer in natural medicines, vitamins, etc. In fact, the day before my cardiologist had put me on daily Protonix (for occasional heartburn) which she told me promptly to not use. The cardiologist also put me on Metformin for my diabetes; my PCP said 'at least its one of the ones with fewer side effects'. My PCP did say that the band will force you to eat right, but I think she was hopeful I could do it on my own. However, she has been my PCP thru several of my previous weight loss attempts, so she should know it wasn't going to happen!! I know she will support me in every way once I have this, and attempt to help me thru it; she is a strong proponent of eating healthy. I borrowed this below from someone here on the forum and it is my sentiment exactly; I may make it my motto!! However, I need to look back and see who posted it, so I can give proper credit: "I wonder if these people would prefer us to be lying smugly in our early grave with our supersized casket and an inscription on our tombstone reading, "Hey, I died 20 years before I should have but at least I didn't take the easy way out."" So here's my plan for starting tomorrow (you may ask 'why not today' but you probably already know why!!) I have to start my pre-op diet July 5, so thought I would start easing into it tomorrow. Maybe a protein shake for breakfast and 2 small meals. I need to know what the various shakes taste like, so I can complete my supply. Probably the 4th I will be out and about, so I will eat what I want, but maybe not as much as normal (ie the whole breadbasket full). Then my preop on Thursday as well as full force on my pre-op diet. Time to clean house for a while, I spend WAYYYY too much time on this computer!!!

I had a comment asking why my doctors weren't encouraging about the surgery. My cardiologist said 'you can eat thru the band if you want to'. I replied that I knew that; that I had been researching it for several weeks, and that I was aware of the ways the band could be defeated. My primary care physician is a very caring physician, and one of the very few who doesn't throw pills at every ailment you have. She is a very strong believer in natural medicines, vitamins, etc. In fact, the day before my cardiologist had put me on daily Protonix (for occasional heartburn) which she told me promptly to not use. The cardiologist also put me on Metformin for my diabetes; my PCP said 'at least its one of the ones with fewer side effects'. My PCP did say that the band will force you to eat right, but I think she was hopeful I could do it on my own. However, she has been my PCP thru several of my previous weight loss attempts, so she should know it wasn't going to happen!! I know she will support me in every way once I have this, and attempt to help me thru it; she is a strong proponent of eating healthy. I borrowed this below from someone here on the forum and it is my sentiment exactly; I may make it my motto!! However, I need to look back and see who posted it, so I can give proper credit: "I wonder if these people would prefer us to be lying smugly in our early grave with our supersized casket and an inscription on our tombstone reading, "Hey, I died 20 years before I should have but at least I didn't take the easy way out."" So here's my plan for starting tomorrow (you may ask 'why not today' but you probably already know why!!) I have to start my pre-op diet July 5, so thought I would start easing into it tomorrow. Maybe a protein shake for breakfast and 2 small meals. I need to know what the various shakes taste like, so I can complete my supply. Probably the 4th I will be out and about, so I will eat what I want, but maybe not as much as normal (ie the whole breadbasket full). Then my preop on Thursday as well as full force on my pre-op diet. Time to clean house for a while, I spend WAYYYY too much time on this computer!!!

I have been researching lapband surgery for several months. So far I have taken these steps: .5-22- 07 Attended a seminar in Bloomington, Il .6-7-07 Visited cardiologist - She was not enthusiastic about lapband surgery. .6-8-07 Visited primary care physician - She was also not enthusiastic about lapband surgery .6-21-07 Appointment with Dr Rohrscheib (bariatric surgeon) - found out my insurance requires 1 year diet. Decided to go ahead with surgery and be self-pay. Scheduled for 8-6-07 (could have had 7-20 but wanted to make sure I could get AP band). My weight at home 243. at doctors office 246.5 .6-25-07 Received call from Dr's office; cannot have surgery 8-6-07, choice of either 7-20 or 8-10 (doctor will be on vacation between those dates. Nurse called and found out AP bands will be available 7-20, so this will be the date!!! Oh no, so much to do between now and then!! 6-28-07 Called to get money from my retirement investments; they will send me paper to sign and liquidate some assets, then mail me check. .7-5-07 Pre-op visit scheduled. Will also start 14 day pre-op diet same day. (have ordered and received some protein shakes, as well as bought some from Walmart and Walgreens. .7-20-07 Surgery scheduled

I guess I should explain why I feel I need this surgery. I was always the smallest child (or close to it) all thru school. I weighed 98 pounds when I was graduated from high school. I was always a 'hungry' child - eating anything and everything I could get my hands on. We were moderately 'poor' so mostly starches, beans, etc. From the birth of my daughter (when I was 20 on), the scales started creeping up. (I thought I was 'fat' at 130 pounds and 5'2" after I delivered!!) After a divorce, raised my daughter on my own. I decided I would not 'do without' if I could help it. Had a successful career as a systems analyst/computer programmer - a sedentary job. Remarried after my daughter left home and married. Retired at age 55 in 2002 (mainly because I couldn't function anymore - no energy, etc). Shortly after retiring, my 'not doing without - food mainly' caught up with me. Found out why I couldn't function any longer. My LAD artery was 90% blocked (had been having symptoms for probably 2 years but stress tests previous had come back normal.) Diagnosed with coronary artery disease, diabetes, high blood pressure all approximately same time in 2003. (Already had been on meds for high cholesterol for a few years by that time). I had made several weight loss attempts through the years - WW, Optifast, Fen-Phen, Diet Workshop and more of the same. Tried to buckle down after the stents in LAD and artery to kidney and lose weight. Atkins, South Beach, etc, doctor assisted shakes, etc, etc. Gained another 10-15 pounds. Right knee replacement almost 2 years ago due to previous injuries (falls). My orthopedic surgeon said on my first followup 'You have the smallest bones I have ever seen for such a large person." Boy, what a compliment! My husband laughed his ass off!! However, he is being supportive for this surgery so I am very happy about that! So here I stand - a 5'2" 245ish pound lardass ready to try to turn my health around. I don't feel like I have the extra year to waste to go on an insurance-required diet and am lucky enough to have enough money in my retirement account to be self-pay (and hopefully live long enough to spend the rest of it!!) If I could lose (and keep the weight off) on the diet it would already be a done deal and I wouldn't need the lapband surgery!! I hope to be able to do all these things when I lose some weight: 1) Ride my horse without worrying that I am breaking his back!! 2) Have the energy to clean my house and shovel out all the stuff I gathered thru the years. 3) Stick my arm in that blood pressure thing at Walmart and not have it get stuck there!! And use a normal blood pressure cuff! 4) Walk somewhere without huffing and puffing and stopping to rest 20 times. 5) Get off all these pills I am taking - or at least most of them!! 6) Quit getting my butt stuck in chairs/theatre seats, etc with arms. 7) Have enough energy to play with grandkids, do some gardening, ride my bike. 8) Not be the biggest person in the room. (Already accomplished this when I went to the bariatric clinic-how sad. Finally sat in a chair too big for me!! But I don't consider this a NSV) What a sick mentality I have that I rejoice that someone in the room is bigger than me - this isn't usually the case tho. 9) Do something besides read, crochet and watch soaps on tv all day long because I don't feel like doing much else. 10) I'm sure there are many more but I have gone brain-dead for now. Thanks to all those who support people here on this forum. I read the good, the bad and the ugly here (in probably half the posts) before making my final decision to have the lapband surgery. I am not usually a joiner but more a lurker so probably won't be posting very often. I started out making my journal private because I was writing it mainly for me but decided maybe if it could help even one person make the journey it would be worth it.

I guess I should explain why I feel I need this surgery. I was always the smallest child (or close to it) all thru school. I weighed 98 pounds when I was graduated from high school. I was always a 'hungry' child - eating anything and everything I could get my hands on. We were moderately 'poor' so mostly starches, beans, etc. From the birth of my daughter (when I was 20 on), the scales started creeping up. (I thought I was 'fat' at 130 pounds and 5'2" after I delivered!!) After a divorce, raised my daughter on my own. I decided I would not 'do without' if I could help it. Had a successful career as a systems analyst/computer programmer - a sedentary job. Remarried after my daughter left home and married. Retired at age 55 in 2002 (mainly because I couldn't function anymore - no energy, etc). Shortly after retiring, my 'not doing without - food mainly' caught up with me. Found out why I couldn't function any longer. My LAD artery was 90% blocked (had been having symptoms for probably 2 years but stress tests previous had come back normal.) Diagnosed with coronary artery disease, diabetes, high blood pressure all approximately same time in 2003. (Already had been on meds for high cholesterol for a few years by that time). I had made several weight loss attempts through the years - WW, Optifast, Fen-Phen, Diet Workshop and more of the same. Tried to buckle down after the stents in LAD and artery to kidney and lose weight. Atkins, South Beach, etc, doctor assisted shakes, etc, etc. Gained another 10-15 pounds. Right knee replacement almost 2 years ago due to previous injuries (falls). My orthopedic surgeon said on my first followup 'You have the smallest bones I have ever seen for such a large person." Boy, what a compliment! My husband laughed his ass off!! However, he is being supportive for this surgery so I am very happy about that! So here I stand - a 5'2" 245ish pound lardass ready to try to turn my health around. I don't feel like I have the extra year to waste to go on an insurance-required diet and am lucky enough to have enough money in my retirement account to be self-pay (and hopefully live long enough to spend the rest of it!!) If I could lose (and keep the weight off) on the diet it would already be a done deal and I wouldn't need the lapband surgery!! I hope to be able to do all these things when I lose some weight: 1) Ride my horse without worrying that I am breaking his back!! 2) Have the energy to clean my house and shovel out all the stuff I gathered thru the years. 3) Stick my arm in that blood pressure thing at Walmart and not have it get stuck there!! And use a normal blood pressure cuff! 4) Walk somewhere without huffing and puffing and stopping to rest 20 times. 5) Get off all these pills I am taking - or at least most of them!! 6) Quit getting my butt stuck in chairs/theatre seats, etc with arms. 7) Have enough energy to play with grandkids, do some gardening, ride my bike. 8) Not be the biggest person in the room. (Already accomplished this when I went to the bariatric clinic-how sad. Finally sat in a chair too big for me!! But I don't consider this a NSV) What a sick mentality I have that I rejoice that someone in the room is bigger than me - this isn't usually the case tho. 9) Do something besides read, crochet and watch soaps on tv all day long because I don't feel like doing much else. 10) I'm sure there are many more but I have gone brain-dead for now. Thanks to all those who support people here on this forum. I read the good, the bad and the ugly here (in probably half the posts) before making my final decision to have the lapband surgery. I am not usually a joiner but more a lurker so probably won't be posting very often. I started out making my journal private because I was writing it mainly for me but decided maybe if it could help even one person make the journey it would be worth it.

I have been researching lapband surgery for several months. So far I have taken these steps: .5-22- 07 Attended a seminar in Bloomington, Il .6-7-07 Visited cardiologist - She was not enthusiastic about lapband surgery. .6-8-07 Visited primary care physician - She was also not enthusiastic about lapband surgery .6-21-07 Appointment with Dr Rohrscheib (bariatric surgeon) - found out my insurance requires 1 year diet. Decided to go ahead with surgery and be self-pay. Scheduled for 8-6-07 (could have had 7-20 but wanted to make sure I could get AP band). My weight at home 243. at doctors office 246.5 .6-25-07 Received call from Dr's office; cannot have surgery 8-6-07, choice of either 7-20 or 8-10 (doctor will be on vacation between those dates. Nurse called and found out AP bands will be available 7-20, so this will be the date!!! Oh no, so much to do between now and then!! 6-28-07 Called to get money from my retirement investments; they will send me paper to sign and liquidate some assets, then mail me check. .7-5-07 Pre-op visit scheduled. Will also start 14 day pre-op diet same day. (have ordered and received some protein shakes, as well as bought some from Walmart and Walgreens. .7-20-07 Surgery scheduled

:help: I just read a thread entitled "Lost" by Missyr which hasn't had any responses. I did respond in order to offer encouragement, but she had some questions on what to eat which I couldn't help her with. Her grandma is in the hospital and her dad just diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and I think she is at wit's end. Could some of you more experienced bandsters reply to her. Thanks, Edith

Missy, I cannot help you with your questions on what to eat as I haven't been banded yet. But please know that my heart aches for you; I am thinking of you and praying for you grandma and dad. Hugs, Edith