mousecrazy

Give the peppermint tea a try. I had a big problem with this after surgery myself, and I did Gaviscon, heating pads, hot shower, rubbing, AND the peppermint tea. Walk around alot, too. It moves the gas around. Most of all, just know it will go away, one of these days! I'm sorry, though. It stinks, but it will be okay. ((((hugs))))

Good luck to you! Be patient, the band isn't an instant miracle! The band has many lessons to teach. You'll be a good student! Keep posting, this is a great place! Cindy

Dear Whippledaddy, your goodbye is eloquent and loving. No words of mine can touch it. Much love and grace to you, and goodbye, Mr. Whipple. I am so sorry for your loss. I hope he is up there getting dog treats from my mother! She's a light touch. ((((hugs)))) Cindy

Jolly! Cindy

I hope I haven't given "my best gift" yet! So, I'll tell about the best gift I ever received. Now, like Kelly, the gift of my daughter tops the list. Thank you, God. The best gift from a human being on earth category was given last year at Christmas...a 10 day trip to Walt Disney World to celebrate my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. My mom and dad, my sister, brother-in-law, nephew, DH, DD, and I all went. We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge, and spent 10 days together, having a great time! Better than great! Magical. This was my mom's dream: to be able to give her kids and grand kids a fantastic trip! As it turns out, she fulfilled this dream just in time, because in February she had surgery on an Thoracic-Aortic aneurysm, and after 5 months of hospitalization, she passed away in July. She was 72. This trip was the last time we were all together like that. It sometimes make me sad when I think we will never get to do it again, but mostly, it just a warm and magical memory. I will return there, hopefully many times, and remember that great gift! Sorry about all the Kleenex that's getting used on this thread. Cindy

Hi, I read your post, every word. I am sorry you went through so much suffering and am glad you feel better physically. You have two little sweethearts, and that is definitely something for which to be grateful! You are not a failure, anymore than someone with any other condition (cancer, diabetes, etc) is a failure. Physical problems happen. You could have also had some kind of physical problem if you never had a band. Not the problem you had, but something different. Hopefully, your relationship with food is so different now, and you have learned alot about yourself and eating, that you are up to the next challenge. Blessings to you, and thank you so much for your story, Cindy

PATTY! You definitely made my day! My weekend! Hug each and every one of your boys, have them all hug you, since I can't do it myself! I went out to hang the wreath on the front door, and there was a package there, with your return address on it! I rushed in, stole the scissors from my DD, and opened it as quick as a wink! I'm totally amazed to have some great reading material on Disney, PLUS a cool Disney pin! PLUS, some little Disney cards with trivia questions! And most of all, the biggest thrill.....my own paid of GOLDEN 50th BIRTHDAY EARS!!!!!!! Well, I'm doing my best for words to reflect how excited I am, and how touched that you would take the time, trouble, and effort to do this. You are a very special family, and I am humbled by your generosity. Many blessings for you and the kids, and thank you from the bottom of my heart. I probably should have PM'd this, but I want all of you to know how very special Patty is (like you didn't know already!) Much love, Cindy

Is there really a baby coming?! Or, is that a good excuse? tee-hee. Hope it's a fun cookie party! C.

Just adding my birthday wishes! Have a great day! Cindy

Love your screen name! There's a few people around here I wouldn't want to mess with! Welcome to LBT, and glad you like us enough to come out of lurkdom...this is a GREAT place, and I love hanging out here....maybe too much! Lots of stuff goes undone while I"m here visiting. Read up on past posts and ask any questions. Check out the sticky notes on abbreviations, too! Cindy

You have asked the million dollar question, and I would be willing to bet that everyone here has or is grappling with the same ideas. Sorry I don't have the magic "for sure" answer, either. I can share with you my progress in this area. Maybe it boils down to the idea of "Live to eat another day." I can want to indulge myself in the third scoop of ice cream, but I don't have to act on it. Start noticing the difference between emotion and action. You can have the emotion, but you don't have to do anything about it. This is what I am trying. It works sometimes, so that's better than never. I'm getting better at this. You just have to take a baby step. One victory. No one has to win all the battles. Hope this gets you to thinking about it differently. I am looking forward to reading everyone's advice to you, because it's really advice to all of us! Cindy

No, no, no, Pat!!!!!! Post pictures! I love them! Your Santa collection is out of this world, and I was straining to look at them more closely...I love Santas and Mom and Dad, well Dad, now, has a big collection of them, too! Love the Harley tree, love the Santa tree, and I especially love the cute little fridge in your island stocked with water. How cool is that! Please post more, when you have them...I promise I will post mine, too. I just posted a picture of DH and DD at WDW last year...our last and greatest vacation with Mom. So check it out! Eileen, I love your little family...it is so much like mine. Mommy, Daddy, daughter. Have ya'll taken a Christmas picture yet? I'm going to try to do that today or tomorrow. I'll post it. Today is clean/decorate day. The tree is up, needs lights now. DH is in the yard, about to begin the yearly struggle with icicle lights, tree (in the yard), and all the animals that come to the tree. We have moose, goose, and I don't know what all (not real, of course). Our neighborhood has a Christmas Carol theme, and each house has a carol title on a wood scroll in the front yard. Ours is "I'll Be Home for Christmas". So we usually set a scene where there's a Christmas tree, surrounded by little animals. It's cool. Three years ago we won Best Holiday Yard in our little town...you can't win again with 3 years, so we are eligible this year....but don't know if we'll go "all out" enough. Zan, since you are connected in the NASCAR area...just wondering if by chance you know a guy named Kenny Sargeant, who does a show on Speed Channel? He covers NASCAR stuff. Anyway, he is a childhood friend of mine from Carrollton...our families have been friends since we were little (he's younger than I am!)...part of a group of families that met at church, when our parents all had little kids. I haven't seen him in forever, but he still sends cards and stuff. Beanie, you just keep relaxing! I do love your new picture! Can't wait to get my Secret Santa package! And find out if the one I sent is received! I really do enjoy giving gifts! Patty, I'm so happy you love your avatar...this is such a great group, isn't it? Gotta run for now, talk later, hugs, Cindy

I'm going to try to post a picture of DH and DD with Eeyore at WDW last year. This picture was taken at Crystal Palace. Great time!

Patty, I seriously doubt that you are a "desperate housewife"! We'll have to think of another name for YOUR show! Any ideas?

Good morning! I have so much to do, yet, I must find time to hang out here with all of you! My grading will have to wait a minute! I'll send some recipes to you, Betty...I consider it almost a hobby! And eating a few cookies isn't really gonna set you back...no one's enjoyed Christmas just munching on celery! Beanie, well, I did decide to skip chimes practice and choir practice, and I'm still alive! The teacher hasn't seen me yet! DD will sing in the first service on Sunday. I will also get to pick up a copy of our church's Advent Devotional book, in which I am a contributor (for the first time!) People volunteer to write a devotional about a given scripture, and I decided to give it a try this year. Can't wait to see it in print! Anyway, Beanie, you can butt in anytime! LOL! Patty, I will let you know the minute I get your box! I am so excited! Sorry about the sick kid. Did you give us details of your party? Lisa, PLEASE post pictures of the Brownie party! My DD's a jr. girl scout now and enjoys it so much! Pat? Where are you? Are you buried under some flour in the kitchen? Are you shopping? Standing in line for a 360 Xbox? I know, you're madly decorating your house! Miss you. Eileen, report to us the very minute you get back home for the dr. appt! I'm sorry your "vacation" is almost over! We'll hold your hand and help you get back into your regular routine. You know, these crazy kids are such a blessing. They have problems, of course, because they are here in an alternative school, but they are some sweet and caring little people. That's not to say that I haven't been called some names, but we usually make up and become friends. The one thing I have tried to do is give them some straight advice, and you might be surprised how rare that is...I have kids who have never been told that some things are right, and some things are wrong...they are truly confused. When one of the teachers here was getting married, one of my girl students said, "She hasn't even had a baby shower yet!" You see? *sigh* We are putting up the lights and the tree this weekend. DD is running for student council, so we heard her practice her little speech she is giving today. I am really proud of her. She called me on the cell phone on my way to work, so I could listen to it again! So cute. Hope everyone is well, and busy in a good way. See ya later, Cindy

I have lost 509.088 scoops of ice cream! I am a *huge* (no pun intended!) ice cream fan! Love it! So, this is very appropriate for me...wow! That's a lot of ice cream! Lke you, my band has curbed some of my desire for ice cream...I still enjoy it once in a while.

Great! Let us know what's going on with you...hope everything is okay. Cindy

Super! I just love knowing how great that feels for you! Cindy

I recommend this website: www.allearsnet.com for any info you need...they have a section on weather, and post the average temps for each month. I was at WDW last December, and you have to pack all those things! It rains, so you need all that stuff. It was cold enough one night that we had to buy sweatshirts, and we were still cold! Think LAYERS! Also, we always got a locker at whatever park we were in, and stashed rain stuff, first aid stuff, etc in a back pack, and put it in the locker. That way, we didn't have to carry it, but it was there if we needed it. Get the best forecast you can from weather channel or weather bug, and then pack layered things that you can add or subtract as you go! Have fun! I'm so envious! Cindy

Food porn...well, I guess it could be that! LOL! I love watching the Food Channel! I get great ideas from the shows, and learn alot about cooking. (Pat? See, I told you!) Good for you for noticing, Margo, that your life really is changing! Cindy

Hang in there! Distract yourself with something you enjoy, and then, pretty soon, it will all be over! Be sure to post here when you get back from surgery....take it easy, don't expect to feel like a million bucks right off the bat, and feel proud of yourself for making a life-enhancing decision! I'll be thinking about you! Cindy

Welcome and congratulations on your new life! You have also found one of the greatest resources ever...LBT! Another way to learn all you need to know is read past threads, like Pat said, and read the stats under our names...you can see how long we've had the band, how many fills we have had, and how much weight we have lost. You'll read many, many successes, and you will also read about problems. We share it all here; the open sharing of both good and bad experiences is our strength! Post any time, and someone will come running with info! Cindy

OUCHIE! OUCHIE! OUCHIE! I sure hope you feel better soon! Cindy

I LOVE BEANIE'S HAT! It's a 10+ on the festive scale! Cindy

Thanks, Betty, for the recipes! I have made some butterscotch cookies like yours, but mine have chowmein noodles and peanuts! I think I'll have to try yours! The main cookie I am required to make are decorated sugar cookies. The recipe is from my great-grandmother on my dad's side. The cookies are kinda soft, then frosted with the old standard confectioner's sugar/milk frosting. The frosting hardens when it dries, so you can stack them. I like red hots and silver balls, along with all the other sprinkles and colored sugar. My DD and nephew (now 20) would protest mightily if I did not have them at the kitchen table, decorating like mad! Those thumbprint cookies sound great...I have a recipe for them, too, but I haven't made them since high school! If you want me to, I'll collect the recipes and email them to everyone? Or, I guess I could copy them and mail them out in a little book? Is anyone interested? Sunsett/Dianne, hello! I'm another Texan that sneaked in here...I'm not sure how it happened, but I sorta started hanging out here, and made great friends, and who knows? Maybe we will all meet someday! Cindy