Anwyn

Hi everyone, Mandi, I'm sorry to hear that you're sick again! I hope the new meds kick into gear for you. Renee, welcome to Bandland! How's the shoulder pain? I had that for the first few weeks, but it gradually went away. When do you get to move to mushies? Kat, what an ordeal! Thank God they all turned up safe. I read about the missing hikers on yahoo - it sure is a small world! I wish I had time for more personals but DD is about to be dropped off. She spent the day with her Grandma. Hugs everyone!

Hi everyone, Thanks for the thoughts and prayers - it's amazing how comforting it is to know that they're coming in from all over the country, and I truly, truly appreciate it! Mandy, congrats on the new bike! Nothing like the perfect gift to save a rotton day. Diane, how is the band today? Were you able to try some mushies? We had to dig ourselves out of 12 inches of snow yesterday. The kids had a snow day today. Since DH is out of town until Sunday, I had to call into work. We had a nice day - we hit the McDonalds Playland (along with 50 other screaming kids) and got haircuts for the kids. Here's hoping were back to school tomorrow! Sorry that I don't have time for personals for everyone - hope everyone is ready for Christmas! Anne

Hey everyone, just popping in to say hello! Sherry, congrats on making it to Onederland!!! How is everyone doing with their holiday prep? I have to do my cards and make one more Amazon purchase, then I'm mostly done. My DH has to go to California for the next week, so I'm pretty bummed about that. All this prep and he won't even be around to enjoy it. I got some bad news today - my dad has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. They'll be removing his prostate sometime in January. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. I've gotta go to bed - I've been up since 4:30 and I can't keep my eyes open. Hope you're all doing well and enjoying the holiday.

Just stopping in to say hello! Thanksgiving was a bit of a bust this year... we had to admit my MIL to the hospital Wednesday night. She was showing signs of a stroke (droopy left side, slurred speech). The good news is - no stroke. The bad news is, she has diabetes. She hasn't seen a doctor in 5 years and was self medicating. Her sugar was 360. She also needs a knee replacement from an accident she had 25 years ago. She's only 65, but for as long as I've known her she's acted like she's 85. Does that make sense? Anyways, she's in a rotton mood stuck in the hospital bed, and is making our lives miserable. Kat, I'm so happy to hear that your tumor is benign!! Are you feeling fully recovered yet? Next Thanksgiving I say you show up with a big bag full of canned corn and nothing else. It would be fun to see the looks on everyone's faces! Then you can order in Kentucky Fried Chicken... Cindy, a belated Happy Birthday and congrats on the new job! It sounds like a perfect fit. Pat, you must be so nervous and excited about your surgery!! I'm so happy for you! So, can you send those guys over to my house in Michigan and have them get my Christmas lights down from the attic? Betty, Happy anniversary!! Jessica, good luck with your mushies! Personally, I'd stay away from tuna. I have a hard time chewing it well enough, and it can be pretty painful going down. Do you like refried Beans? Mandy, you're a braver woman than I am. I stay away from Black Friday - I just can't handle the crowds. Congrats on all the great deals! Diane, how was your Thanksgiving? I remember feeling like everyone was looking at what I ate when I first got my band too, but they'll get used to it (and so will you!) :eek: Patty, how are you doing? I'm thinking positive thoughts that things are going to pick up for you. Do you have any leads on a new job? Eilene, is DD enjoying karate? I'm ready to take a break - I can't handle all these after school activities anymore. DD and DS start gymnastics this Saturday (goodbye sleeping in!), so I'm making them drop karate for a while. It would be a harder decision if their karate instructor was drool-worthy like yours. Okay, I'm sure I've missed some of you and I apologize. I'm off to bed so I can have the energy to plaster a smile on my face when I visit the MIL in the hospital tomorrow. (((((HUGS))))) everyone! Psssst!! Don't tell, but I got on the scale this morning and my ticker's a big fat liar!! Stupid Thanksgiving... Anne

Hi everyone, Can someone tell me what kind of surgery Kat is having? I must have missed it when I was reading up on the posts. Kat, I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers! Sherry, how's your stomach feeling today? Did the unfill help the reflux last night? Mandi, thanks for the advice on the Gas-X - I took some last night and it really helped. How's Abi doing with school - any improvement? My son is having problems keeping up this year, and I'm thinking we'll have to pull him from the Montessori school. He's in second grade (and the teachers tell me that he's keeping up with the second grade curriculum), but he's still working on the first grade math and phonics workbooks. WTF? Pat, Happy Anniversary!! :rose: Enjoy your romantic evening. :eyebrows: Eilene, how's your back? Did I ever tell you about my inversion table? It helps my back a lot and it was only about $150. They stretch out the spine and relieve pressure, and they help build core muscles. Go to inversiontables.com to see a picture of one - it's really not as scary as it sounds. Jetti, how goes the recovery? Congratulations on the weightloss! I ate tons of refried Beans during my mushy stage - yum! Betty, what are you up to this weekend? Cindy, how was the deposition? It doesn't seem fair that you're getting sued when you were pushed into the car from someone else! Good thing the insurance co is footing the bill. When's the last time anyone heard from Beanie? Darcy and Patty, where are you? I'd love a copy of the new Christmas address list too! My address hasn't changed. It was a lot of fun getting cards from everyone last year! Well, it looks like Mother Nature let us off the hook on the leaf clean up today - it's raining outside. Grandma has the kids today, so DH and I are going to head out and see Beowulf in IMAX 3-D. Hope you're all enjoying your weekend!

Hello All, :rain:It's a rainy November day here in Michigan - blech. I just spent the weekend in Grand Rapids with Mom and my sisters. We spent too much, ate too much, and drank WAY too much wine, but it was a ton of fun and the Christmas shopping is almost done! Today was back to the real world, so now I'm back to work and trying to figure out how to play catch up with all the junk that didn't get done this past weekend. It was worth it though! Bear with me while I catch up on everyone's new jobs, challenges, lovelifes, etc. So much has changed! It looks like Eileen, Mandy, and Betty all have new jobs that they love (or at least like). That's great news - congrats everyone! I'm working 35 hours a week for the hospital, and I love it here. Great boss, fun coworkers. The toughest part has been not having enough time with the kids, but they've adjusted really well. DD and DS both began karate a few months ago and they love it. Band life is going okay (she says cautiously). I've had a few fills and the weight is creeping off slooooowly. I'm on liquids today because my tummy feels weird and I was burping all last night. I'm sure it'll be fine if I take it easy for a few days. Okay, time to stop slacking and get back to work! I have to clean up the drool on my keyboard from reading about the krispy creme cake. Mmmmmm... It feels great to be back on here - I missed you guys!!

Hey ladies!! I've been busy catching up on the October and November threads. I've missed everyone, and I don't have any good reason for staying away so long. I suppose when I went back to work my whole life became a juggling act and I let a few things drop. I'm trying to get better at prioritizing things, and dang it, I miss my friends!! Besides, I've decided to say to heck with corporate policy and start posting from work - we're not supposed to use the internet for personal use, tee hee! Oh well, I work for a hospital and this is a "medical" website, right? I will catch up more soon - it's 3:30 in the morning and I have to get back to bed. I woke up 2 am nautious and burping. And so continues my love/hate relationship with the band... (((((HUGS))))) Anne

Just popping in to say hello! The new job is going great but it keeps me hopping. I miss you guys! Will read up and post more soon. (((HUGS)))

Hi All! Mary, hope your little guy is doing better! My nephew has pneumonia right now too. There sure is a lot of nasty stuff going around right now! Eilene, I make those egg things for my easter egg hunt every year. They're always a huge hit. The only difference is I put a small pillsbury biscuit (the ones that come in the tubes) in the bottom of the muffin pan first and then top with the other stuff. I have to use the jumbo muffin pans or they overflow. Hmm... I'm going to try them without the bread. Much more band friendly! Mandy, glad your foot is healing up! That queso dip sounds awesome. We aren't having a superbowl party but I'm going to have to try that sometime. What size block of velveeta do you use? And what are rotels? I've never heard of them. :guess Kat, I hope your trip is going well! Cindy, that Valentine's gift doesn't sound weird to me at all. My DH would be in heaven if I got him a huge box of sausage. Betty, enjoy the Superbowl! Irene, I'll be training for 2 weeks total. Yup - it's the same job I had when I stopped working 6 years ago, so this is pretty much a refresher course. They're making me sit through hospital orientation again, which is a two day course this Monday and Tuesday. I get to learn all about the history of the nuns who started the hospital. Oh joy! Dianne, Pogo is my addiction. If I start playing at 11pm I know I'll be up till 3 in the morning. I love playing Texas Hold Em. What's your favorite game? Sherry, are you staying warm? Darcy, you're so crafty! I'd love to learn how to sew. I know I've missed some of you but I have to get moving. Stay warm everyone!

Kat, honey I'm so sorry about your friend. You'll all be in my thoughts. You be careful on the road and don't be afraid to cancel if it gets bad out. Hi Darcy! I see we're both on at the same time. Came to taunt us with your evil cake? Well, DH brought home a humongous box of brownie mix from Costco - and I already had one in the pantry. I could make brownies for 100. Crispy - you poor thing!! I hope you feel better soon. (((LOOSE HUGS))) so I don't hurt your ribs. :rose: Promise to catch up on personals with everyone later. Still haven't figured out if I can LBT at work since the lady who is training me sits with me all day. Since nobody there knows I have a band it would be a tad awkward, lol. Hope you're all doing well and adding lots of miles to the exercise log! Hugs all around.

Hi everyone! Work is going great, but I'm pooped. My brain muscle is worn out, but I wanted to let you know I'm thinking of y'all. These recipes all sound great - I'm going to try them both! Time to get the kids in the tub and then collapse. Have a great evening! Oh yeah... my scale is moving a little too!

Today's my first day as a working mom! Here it is Monday morning at 1am and I'm too freaking wound up to sleep. :confused: I'm sipping a small glass of red wine to try to conk myself out. Have to be up and out with the kiddoes at 7am - yikes! I have my clothes layed out and the kids's lunches packed. Did I mention the alarm is set early so that I can hop on the elliptical for 30 mins before work? Hmm... perhaps today is NOT the best day to hop on the exercise bandwagon. :confused: Dianne, good for you! I'm so glad you're taking some time for yourself to exercise. Keep us posted on the surgery date - I'm sure they can get you set up somewhere else fairly easily. It can't be as hard as getting lapband approval at any rate. :rofl: Eilene, oh no - we're not staying at the $800/night hotel. We usually do dinner and a movie for our anniversary but we always said we'd splurge for the 10th. But there's splurging and then there's stupid, lol. Glad to hear you and DH had a nice anniversary! You have my sympathy for the polly pockets. DD got a small set for Christmas and they've moved into every nook and cranny of the house. Kat, (whispers) pssst... congrats on the weight loss! Darcy, did you find the chocolate? Can I have some? :hungry: Sherry, I made pork chops in the crock pot yesterday and DH loved them. I used the really thick boneless ones, threw them in raw (though I could have browned them with some onion - I didn't bother and they turned out fine), then added a bottle of teriyaki sauce and a cup of water. Cooked them all day and served them with rice pilaf and steamed broccoli. Yummy, though I've tried it several times now and the brand of teriyaki sauce really makes a difference. Some brands are WAY too salty. I'd love a good chicken crock pot recipe if you find one! Crispy, you poor thing! I hope the doctor can give you something on Monday to finally get rid of your bronchitis. (((HUGS))) Mandy, how is your foot healing up? Okay, time to try to fall asleep again. Here's hoping I don't fall asleep on my first day, lol. Hope everyone had a great weekend! :notagree :notagree :notagree :notagree