mousecrazy

First, HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Of course, I did gobble less than last year! Next, to Betty: HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! How many years? Eileen, that is one heck of a beautiful cake you made for us! Thank you so much! You made the day extra special! It's been a good day, all things considered. There has been no change in g'ma...maybe she didn't want to leave on my birthday? Still waiting.... Apparently, lots and lots of people eat out on Thanksgiving...I would never have known that if I hadn't done that this year. I still missed getting up early and putting the turkey in the oven, etc., like Beanie describes. We'll do it next year! The darn Cowboys lost in overtime to Denver....still, a good game, though. I'm jealous of you snowbirds up there in NJ...it just sounds great! I am thankful for all of you, by band buddies and friends...I agree we should hang out together through the years! Cindy

AWWWWWW, thanks! How very sweet of you to remember my birthday! And, Eileen, the cake is beautiful...look how well you taught Pat to cook! LOL! Thanks again! IT's been a great day!

Betty, thanks for the encouragement...I'm kinda looking forward to dinner out...something different. I am liking "different" these days! Pat, oh Pat!? Are you okay? How are those cookies, girl? Eileen, you are a busy woman...enjoy the day tomorrow, and I know everyone will love your care and cooking! Beanie, how's that Southwestern Thanksgiving treating you? Everyone, rest up tonight. The BIRD awaits! G'night, Cindy

Hi...well, I've scoured ebay and found that yesterday they were selling for about 3,000 dollars...yes that THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS! Today, looks like the going price is around $700. Keep checking there, it should continue to drop. Make sure to check out the seller's feedback before you bid! Very important! I'll keep watching. Cindy

This is one of the constant questions around the board, and after reading the answers, it appears that it all depends on your personality, and the type of people you are around. If you don't want to tell, that is perfectly fine. I respect that decision, and I bet anyone would. For me, I told everyone, and haven't felt pressured by people watching what I eat or anything. If they are interested in what I eat, they probably were before my surgery, too! Like, what does she eat so that she weighs sooo much?? LOL! Maybe it's my advancing age (50 tomorrow), and I just don't give a hoot what other people understand or don't understand. I understand. My family and friends support me, and that's all I need to know about that. I have also been able to help a couple of other people, which is something I am happy about. Decide what's best for you, and go with it. Cindy

A very happy birthday to you, Alexandra...my fellow November sister! Cindy

We have a little zoo! The 1st in line is Dharma, my Bichon Frise. She and DH were babies together. Then, my aunt died and we inherited her Airedale Terrier, Annie. Perky, your basic tiger-stripe cat fell from the sky and showed up beside the garage about 4 years ago, right after the death of my long-time cat friend, Athena. I wanted another cat, so DH and DD adopted one; her name is Snuggles, and she is a long hair tortoiseshell. Then, a beautiful long hair gray male kitten decided he would rather live here than two doors down with the toddler triplets, so we took him. His name is Slatey. He was the only guy around here besides DH. Finally, Dharma had a fling with a Min. Schnauzer down the block, and resulted in 4 puppies. We kept one, Mickey. He's a 9 month old black and white min schnauzer...nothing about him looks like a Bichon. Total: 3 dogs, 3 cats, 2 geckos, and 1 old red beta fish. Crazy!

Good morning! It looks like everyone here has their plans in order, and are hard at work! Pat, I can't wait to hear how your cookies come out...with the expert guidance here from Eileen, I am sure you will do great! Beanie, thanks for checking in from the sunny climes of Tucson. Swimming sounds so great! It's warm here, too...but I like hearing about the snow! I guess it comes from so many years in Texas (all my life!). Zan, have a great trip. And a safe one! The news from Kansas is g'ma's respiration is very slow (10-12 per minute), low blood pressure, low oxygen level. The body is still ticking, but they say she's been gone since Sunday. We are still waiting, still "on hold." We are definitely having T-giving meal at a restaurant tomorrow, which will be different. Steve's brother is in town from D.C., so we've gotta do something. I'll miss cooking, though. Like it says on your signature, Eileen, "walk in faith." I believe there is a plan for it all, and maybe making the holidays different is just a way to help us handle the loss of Mom...? We'll all know the answer someday, but I think I"ll just think of it like that for now. I love coming here to chat with you all....enjoy your day! Cindy

Hi, Jini! My port is slightly underneath the largest incision, on my left side, roughly waist level. Some people's ports are in different locations, but I bet you would be right to guess it is near the largest incision. Cindy

How do you whistle in writing?! I am leaping with joy for you, and if it cost a million, it was worth it! You look fantastic, and I am so happy you posted these pictures! Way to go! Cindy

Hi, Pat....I'll keep an eye out...I'd check Ebay, too, if I were in your position...is it possible to order on Best Buy.com, and have it shipped to you? I have no idea how hard-to-get they will be; we are in the Gameboy phase here, and I had to look and look to find a Nintendo DS bundle, but scored one yesterday! Good luck, and I'll let you know if I find something. Cindy

Hi, I just wanted you to know I am checking in on you. Start walking, and keep moving (like Jack said). Discover your tools and use them. ((((hug)))) Cindy

HI everyone! Lisa, first of all, I'm so happy for you that you have a date! That is a perfect time...I was fully operational (driving, shopping, cooking) 5 days after surgery, if I remember correctly...you will be able to do all the week-before-Christmas things with no problem, I would think. So, don't wear yourself totally out getting everything ready. About your DD--I have an 8 year old daughter, too. I chose to tell her everything. Of course, you know your DD better than anyone and know what she can and can't handle. With mine, the more she knows, the better she is at dealing with it. And, I also told everyone about my surgery, so there were no secrets that had to be kept. I've heard others say that you can "cover" your surgery by saying you had a minor abdominal procedure or something like that. I'm just an open book. I showed her the pamphlets, explained how it worked and why I was having it done. She was just excited that I would be able to dance with her! Betty, have fun cooking! I was looking forward to it, but with everything up in the air, we are looking at eating out instead...I may have to make pumpkin pies anyway! LOL! Eileen? Are you out of bed? Maybe your DD didn't have school today and ya'll are sleeping in....I'll check back later! Patty! Yes! It's real! Ask everything, and keep a little folder with all the info in it. I carried that folder around for weeks, but when I needed the info, I knew right where to find it. Keep us posted! It is sunny and cool here in Texas...looking at a high tomorrow of near 80. In Texas, we need Thanksgiving short-sleeved t-shirts AND sweaters....you never know what the temp. will be! See ya later, Cindy

Hello to all! Keep those prayers coming...everything is still the same, with no change to report to you. Just continued comfort care and waiting. We will make the trip to Kansas, but probably for her service. Thanksgiving is on "hold"...if we are here, we will probably eat at a restaurant. That'll be different...and no leftovers. Which is a good thing, but a bad thing, too. I PM'd you, Patty...you are too sweet! As for the random post...well, hmmmm. I am so glad everyone seems to be doing so well...I miss Beanie, don't you? Of course, she is on her vacation so I am sure she is having a great time! Zan, so happy you have made it through fill #1. It really is not painful at all. Fill #2 is doing very well...I might be up for fill #3 in a while. I am pretty sensitive to them, so am going slow on purpose! Pat, did you find any of my Ebay listings? I have just listed some small sweaters (we list stuff for other people; these are way too small to have ever been mine!). Betty, I hope you got to the store when it was less crowded...what's with this new trend of stacking boxes in the aisle, so two carts can't go down it? I hate that! I'll keep you posted on the continuing story...thank you for being there! Cindy

Good for you! I am glad to see you are making that step, and I'm sure you feel great about it, too! Skip the lydocaine, it doesn't hurt enough to get stuck twice! Good luck, Cindy

I wish I was in Maine! Does that count! Love your state! Cindy

Hello, Beanie, now you KNOW I am kidding (prodding, actually!) about the lying...just giving you an out, in case! This 2nd fill is wokring out great...I eat about a third of what everyone else eats, and it takes me just as long. That works for me! No PBing at all. Right now, I am 'wanting" to eat for stress relief, but can't. I love my band! Heard from Kansas today that G'ma is on "comfort care" which is a way of saying she is dying. My aunt said it could be hours, or a day or two. Please, if you pray, pray for her peace. She is strong in faith, and will be happy in the arms of her Lord. I know my mom and uncle and grandpa are waiting to bring her home. I will let you know when I know something. Beanie, your explanation made total sense to me, anyway. I know it is hard to adjust to never pigging out again, but we'll get used to it. Isn't that the great thing about our LBT friends? Everyone understands. What a comfort! I'm just killing time, keeping my mind and thoughts occupied. Did ya'll see Vera's before and after pictures? Amazing! Hugs, Cindy

My condolences on the loss of your grandmother...I am about to go through the same thing. ((((hugs)))). Take care, Cindy

HI! I want to say good luck on Tuesday! My big "had-to-haves" were Gaviscon or Gas-X, and Sf popsicles! PIercedqt has the ultimate list...I really can't think of anything else to add. I sure hope it works for you like it has for so many others...I used to take Celebrex for joint pain, and I take nothing now. I take no meds at all. I used to have a monthly bill of $200 or so. So, I hope for you that this surgery will be the one that makes all the others unnecessary, all the meds unnecessary. Good luck! Cindy

An orthopedic surgeon suggested it...no way was he going to be able to reduce the pain in my ankles, knees and hips unless I chose to weight less. I went for it because I was tired of battling the weight, winning for a while, then gaining back more than I started with. I have an 8 year old daughter I'd like to stick around for. I want to be energetic and full of life, and not trapped in my fat.

(((((Hugs))))))) I have no idea what to say that would make a bit of difference. I just want you to know that we care. Hang in there! Post when you can. Cindy

I admire your positive attitude; the first step toward a change is visualization! Having those smaller jeans in your closet will help you to see yourself in them, and will probably help you reach your goal! I'm wearing a 22 now, and have a few 20's lined up, waiting. I have a few size 18 things, too. I hold the 18's up, and it seems like wishful thinking. I think we can do it, this time!

Work it, girl, work it! So much of this journey is unknown...it is normal to be nervous before a new step. I've seen how you handled all the other steps, and you have done beautifully! It will be the same here, you'll see. Cindy

Hi everyone! You know, those cyberhugs are about as good as real-life hugs! I thank you all! Nothing new today about g'ma. We will just have to wait for God's own time. Had breakfast with friends this morning. Then did a tiny bit of shopping. DH has the big smoker going, and is smoking a turkey, plus briskets, and pheasant, ham, ribs, chicken....it'll be one big meat cleaning fest tomorrow! Trying to straighten out our Ebay warehouse, oh, I mean, my HOUSE! Preparing for Christmas decorations. My dad and sis don't want to do much decorating, not in the mood. But, I have DD, and think she needs to have as "normal" a Christmas as we can have, and decorating for Christmas is part of it. My mom LOVED Christmas, and it would be a shame to pretend it didn't exist...I don't think mom would want us to be so sad we didn't enjoy her favorite holiday. I'm just full of depressing banter...sorry. Eileen, I totally agree with you about Beanie! Incredible positive attitude...I get so mad at her insurance company, and she is rolling with the punches, or lying, one of the two! LOL! Either way, I love ya to pieces, Beanie! Zan, I went through the same thing before my 2nd fill...that scale wouldn't move, and if it did, it went up a little and back down to where it was before...It will all be okay, and you hang in there until you get your fill! See ya'll tomorrow! Cindy

I think mine is 1.5 per week...but I want to put your mind at ease...some weeks I lost nothing, maybe even two weeks in a row. Then, 3-4 pounds would "whoosh" away in a few day period. So, an average is just that, an average. With me, it is not usually steady, but lose, gain a little, then lose a lot, gain a little, hold steady, lose, etc. I track my weight loss on fitday.com, and it is interesting to check out the little graph for different periods, like a week, 2 weeks, a month, 2 months, and so on. Hope that helps a little...don't sweat it. Cindy