piercedqt78

@@bsellis very cute! Your pup looks like a sly fox.

I guess working with a rescue and having animals in and out as fosters, temps, and just simply not being able to say no to any animal tends to build up quite a collection of fur babies, shell babies, and of course scaled babies when needed. My Kammi had to have an eye removed, and they drained the Fluid out of the eye they removed, and then injected it into her remaining eye to try to save it. She is known in our area as the miracle dog, all the local vets know her. And we take her to all the local pet adoption events, to show that even the roughest looking babies can look like a show dog with love and good vet care.

@piercedqt78 I think you win the prize for the most diverse zoo! lol...
So sweet how great your rescue is doing (Kammi?). Rescued pups are the greatest!

@@piercedqt78 truly awesome! Your Zoo is incredible

This is Leo, he is my daughter's Cavalier King Charles. We adopted him from a woman that was dying of Breast Cancer, and could not take him to the hospice home.
This is Kammi and Louie, the little guy has been in our lives and hearts for about 6 years now, and I love him with all my heart. The bigger girl is my hubby's little lady. She has had a long life, in just 4 short years. I am also adding a picture of her the day she was picked up off the street. She was still nursing a puppy in the condition she was in, my grand puppy Winston turned out to be a wonderful, goofy big mixed breed boy, that we still visit. She has come a long way don't you think?
This is what I come home to, MY pillow that has been dragged from my bed to the couch, so Princess Kammi can be more comfy. I have bought her the same pillow, I have tried giving her my old one and taking the new one, but she still takes mine, not hubby's or the kid's pillow, only mine.
This is the day Kammi officially became ours. It was the best day.
Louie sunning himself. He LOVES living in Florida, there is always grass to roll in, and since it rains often, he gets to roll in wet grass, yay for him, not so much for me.
This is JubJub, he is a male sugar glider, we also have a female but she is a total snot, and doesn't care for her picture being taken.
Last but not least, our red footed tortoises. We have 2, the larger one is strawberry (they have spots that look like strawberry seeds on their legs) and the little guy is Squirt. I wasn't sure about having them, they live like 30-50 years, and eat a special diet, but now I LOVE them. They are in a large reptile tank on my Breakfast bar, we never used it anyway, and they come out and watch me cook, or do dishes. They know when it is time to be fed, and will tap their shells on the tank if I'm late getting to them. They also LOVE a bath, and I soak them in a small hospital tub (like the ones they use for sponge baths etc) and they are just too cute in the Water. It's really amazing to watch them grow and everyone loves watching them eat. They take such massive bites for something so small. And honestly the cutest thing to ever happen is to see a tiny little tortoise yawn. I don't know why it's so cute, but it is.
That's my little zoo. It's crowded, and feeding time takes forever, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

My kids and I just adopted Ozzy two days ago!

He's 2 months old and was in a kill shelter in Delaware.

That's wonderful!!! Enjoy your special day and your new life!

I want to do this too, but I want to do vintage pin-up for my theme. I have several large tattoos and want them to be the focal points. That is what caught my hubby's eye when we first met, so I figure that is the one thing that is the same today. I have always loved Bettie Page, my daughter's middle name is Paige as a tribute, and I have several of her photos that I want to recreate. Now that I'm smaller than she was it will be easy to do, I just need to find the right photographer.

Wow.... Thanks for sharing!!
Good luck with both your anniversaries!!

Premier Protein chocolate, skim milk and 1 small banana (or 1/2 big one) is a staple for me...I have it at least 3-4 times a week. So I'm getting banana carbs AND milk carbs. I also eat berries, peaches, apples, pancakes, and have partaken in tiramisu, ice cream, cake and wine on a few occasions. None of these treats made me crave more of them. I don't count or weigh or track anything so I have no clue how many carbs I get in a day. I'm living my life, loving my sleeve, and everything in moderation.
That being said, I've lost 75 pounds in less than 6 months, so I'm thinking the bananas are not the evil fruit that exist to halt our weight loss progress. At least not for me.

I mean I don't weigh my food. I weigh myself once a week. Usually on Friday, but I cheated and weighed myself today because it is my 5 months surgiversary.

I had my 1 year on the 8th but due to a nasty stomach virus I was unable to go, so I went today. I'm down 91 pounds from my revision weight, and 134 from my highest. I had 100% perfect labs, and my surgeon that is normally very to the point called me a "superstar" It just made my day. I also did my measurements and I'm now a 33-28-32. I can wear a size 3 in every brand, and as small as a 0 in some brands. Today was one of the happiest days of my life!!

I had my 1 year on the 8th but due to a nasty stomach virus I was unable to go, so I went today. I'm down 91 pounds from my revision weight, and 134 from my highest. I had 100% perfect labs, and my surgeon that is normally very to the point called me a "superstar" It just made my day. I also did my measurements and I'm now a 33-28-32. I can wear a size 3 in every brand, and as small as a 0 in some brands. Today was one of the happiest days of my life!!

Well regardless you look great and I still don't see the extra skin!

I had my 1 year on the 8th but due to a nasty stomach virus I was unable to go, so I went today. I'm down 91 pounds from my revision weight, and 134 from my highest. I had 100% perfect labs, and my surgeon that is normally very to the point called me a "superstar" It just made my day. I also did my measurements and I'm now a 33-28-32. I can wear a size 3 in every brand, and as small as a 0 in some brands. Today was one of the happiest days of my life!!

I had my 1 year on the 8th but due to a nasty stomach virus I was unable to go, so I went today. I'm down 91 pounds from my revision weight, and 134 from my highest. I had 100% perfect labs, and my surgeon that is normally very to the point called me a "superstar" It just made my day. I also did my measurements and I'm now a 33-28-32. I can wear a size 3 in every brand, and as small as a 0 in some brands. Today was one of the happiest days of my life!!

These were taken today. The 2 "selfies" were in the doctor's office, and the one with the Water in the background is from his parking garage. I don't mind walking the entire length of the garage with a view like that.
       

I had my 1 year on the 8th but due to a nasty stomach virus I was unable to go, so I went today. I'm down 91 pounds from my revision weight, and 134 from my highest. I had 100% perfect labs, and my surgeon that is normally very to the point called me a "superstar" It just made my day. I also did my measurements and I'm now a 33-28-32. I can wear a size 3 in every brand, and as small as a 0 in some brands. Today was one of the happiest days of my life!!

I had my 1 year on the 8th but due to a nasty stomach virus I was unable to go, so I went today. I'm down 91 pounds from my revision weight, and 134 from my highest. I had 100% perfect labs, and my surgeon that is normally very to the point called me a "superstar" It just made my day. I also did my measurements and I'm now a 33-28-32. I can wear a size 3 in every brand, and as small as a 0 in some brands. Today was one of the happiest days of my life!!

My bariatric group hosted their first meet and greet, that was loaded with some great vendors giving out some nice goodies, and holding a few drawings for some cool stuff. Then they held an amazing fashion show using some of their patients that were willing to walk the catwalk in some beautiful outfits. They also provided some tasty Snacks, some healthy some not so healthy. (I will question that when I see him in the office next week). My mom, hubby, daughter, and daughter's best friend attended with me as my "support people" As the fashion show was coming to a close, I notice my surgeon standing in the back watching, and I slipped back to talk to him for a moment. I haven't seen him for 4 months, like I said I have an appt next week, he looked at me and seemed puzzled, he said I know you, but I don't know where I know you from. He thought I was a spouse of a patient. I reminded him that he did my surgery last May, and that I had lost 130 pounds, his mouth dropped open, and then it clicked who I was in his mind. He asked how I have been doing, and how I am feeling now that I am at my goal. I told him I feel amazing, I was so overcome with emotion that I just stepped forward pulled him into a hug and started to cry, on his very expensive suit. He hugged me back to my surprise (he is very professional, and doesn't have the most friendly personality, very to the point and blunt in the office) and said that he was just blown away with my success, and that he was PROUD of me, and wanted me in the next fashion show. My family had joined us at this point, and my mom made the comment that I was too thin, and he corrected her and said I was not too thin, I looked perfect. He said I looked like a barbie doll, and he wouldn't change a thing about me. I thanked him for saving my life, and he reminded me again tonight of something he said to me on the day of my surgery. He couldn't "fix me", but he was giving me the tools to fix myself. That has stuck with me, and when I start to think of cheating on my food plan, (I NEVER diet, I have a life long food plan) I think of the amazing tool he has given me, and how he told me it was up to me to make this tool work for me. I have worked my sleeve to it's fullest and I am proud to say that I have gone from a size 22/24 to a 4 yes that's right a 4. I am going to walk in the next fashion show, and I am not only going to walk, I'm going to strut my stuff. I am so proud of the work I have put into my new self, and I and forever greatful for the tool that Dr. Uchal had given to me. My life was changed on May 8th 2013, that will be the day I Celebrate my rebirth. I just wanted to share with you all, it was an NSV but seeing all the other women that had made the same amazing transformations that I have made brought me to tears. At the end of the show, they announced that the ladies that walked in the show tonight had lost a total of 2,200 pounds. Amazing. And my mother who needs the surgery told me that she was too old. Well tonight she met a woman that is older than her that was sleeved and lost 156 pounds. She looked AMAZING, and my mom asked her a ton of questions. I think she might actually look into being sleeved. This is something I have prayed about for the last year. My mom is diabetic, high blood pressure and high cholestrol, and she had to have back surgery, and now she needs knee surgery. I keep telling her the surgery would change her life. It would help her live longer, healthier and happier. She told me that she would do the surgery but doesn't want the excess skin, I told her I would rather have her with excess skin, and Alive, than bury her with tight skin. I don't want to lose my mom to obesity, when help is available. I think that actually sunk in tonight. I guess we will see what she does. I did my surgery to be here for my daughter, and I hope she is willing to do the same to be here for myself and my daughter.
Tonight was a great night. It also made me decide to help set up a monthly meeting for my area. I posted in the local group area so I guess tonight not only made me happy, but also made me see that I have a lot of support and motivation to offer.

That was wonderful! Thank you for sharing!

I'll tell you my story...No one, including my own family, commented on my weight loss until I hit the 50 pound mark. I couldn't believe it.
Then I realized something - my weight was a bigger deal to me than it was to others. I thought of myself as The Fat Girl. Other's just knew me as...me. The people that know me, didn't identify me with my weight - I identified myself as my weight. Yes, I felt good on the day I hit 50 pounds lost that two people commented on my weight - they weren't people particularly close to me (the mom of my son's friend and my financial planner). My husband also pointed something out...I was wearing baggy clothes and it was hard to tell that I had lost so much.
I documented my process by taking measurements and pictures - the pictures are a real help, you will see yourself getting smaller. It's awesome. You know you're successes - this is your story.
You're doing great - hang in there. Next thing you know, you'll start getting looks. (I was out walking the dog the other day and caught a guy checking me out - that's a good ego boost!)

I met my husband at a bowling alley. I was there with friends, and he was there with co-workers. I told one of my male friends not to sit next to me, I didn't want the good looking guy to think I was taken. LOL Turns out my guy friend had worked with the guys I pointed to, and walked over to talk to them. I wanted to crawl under the table, as my bff has no brain to mouth filter (why we are besties) and I had no clue what he was saying. He pointed my direction, and I lifted the drink menu over my face like I was soooooo interested in the beer specials. What he was actually doing was showing them where were were sitting. When they finished their "team building exercise" several of them joined us on our lane for the next few hours of bowling, drinking and just a general good time. 3 of those guys asked for my number, only one was interested the other 2 were planning on telling him I had asked them to pass the # on to him. He called me a few days later and we started seeing each other for odd dates, I worked nights and he did daytime retail management, so time was limited. This was in Feb of 2000, I got hurt at work in late April, and he very kindly offered to come and sleep on the sofa and help take care of me. When I returned to work 6 weeks later, I asked if he was leaving or if he wanted a key. He took the key, and a few weeks later told me that we needed to talk. I thought for sure he was moving out and breaking up with me. He told me that he had never seen me wear jewelry so he didn't know my taste, he got down on one knee and proposed. We were married that Oct, in a bowling Alley (where else?) and have been together for 14 years this year. He's not a knight in shining armor, but he's also not a retard in a tin foil hat either. He is the father of my only child, my best friend, and the one person that I never have to doubt when it comes to having my back. Like Forest Gump says "we are like peas and carrots" he has always dated bigger girls, so I was a little worried when I started getting thinner. Just a few weeks ago he told me that I look amazing, and he is proud of my weight loss, and the fact that I did this to get healthy for myself, and our family.
I said all of that to say this, I had planned to get a few beers and bowl a few games with my friends that night and met my future husband. I wasn't looking for anyone and he just dropped into my life. Sometimes the dating sites, looking too hard makes you walk past the one that you should have seen. Best of luck to those getting back into the dating scene.

And Mother Nature and God have given us the most marvelous weekend in a long time! Dry air and warm temperatures. Almost too cool for the pool for this transplant Floridian.

My sunrises here in Florida. Eat your heart out!!