Kat817

I had a woman and her DD who go to church with my parents come up to me in the mall day before yesterday to ask how I was doing, I am on the church prayer chain, for surgery I just had. The DD (who goes to church even less often than me!!) says to me...."well it sucks you have to deal with cancer again, but hey it looks like it helped you lose a lot of weight!" uh-huh----that's how it happen! Idiot! Kat

Pasta is one of my more difficult foods!!! We are all sooooo different! I can eat it without pain, or anything, but I can only eat maybe a quarter of a cup! Other foods I eat normal yet small servings, not so with pasta, or rice. It feels like I eat them, they hit my stomach, and begin swelling---I am able to enjoy small amounts and stay full for a long time. BUT it is very easy for me to push it just a bite to far, and be hurting and on the verge of a PB. I second Jachut, either take your food, or opt out of eating all together! Life will get back to more of a "normal" just don't rush your healing. I too was on liquids for a month! You have your entire life ahead of you----let the band heal well, so you have success ahead! Kat

wooohooo!! Way to go Sherry!!! Pat love the do ---very modern! I like the variations in the chunky color! Gets a thumbs up from me!!! Kat

Good point! It would be terribly difficult to be the left out one, whether intentional or not. You want what is best for your friends, but you want it for you too! Difficult situation. Kat

LMAO--------------at myself!!! Talking to Laura about internal ultrasounds----and then my mind shifted gears to thinking about her size 14 tops---and I mentioned a size change----all in one sentence about internal US's!!! No the size of the ultrasound wand did not change----!!!! Kat

Terry, if you need a shoulder to cry on or whine to, or out and out bi#*h to---call me anytime! Sometimes it is easier to do with someone who cares about you, yet is a bit distant from the goings on in your life. I had a neighbor once, and they lost their 2 year old son to menengitis. He would come over usually drunk---and cry and talk about Parker for hours. He told me one 'morning after' that he had no one else to talk to. His wife would not listen, she was unable to talk about it yet, and his Mom would, but she hurt from losing Parker, and then hurt worse knowing he was hurting so bad. He said us not being strangers, but not really involved was what pulled him through some nights. Poor guy! He eventually divorced, and remarried, and had 4 more sons. I never encountered it until my son went through some problems, and I had no one I felt I could turn to. That was not also thrown by his actions at the time, or some one who would not judge him his entire life for a lapse in judgement at that time. So if you need a "someone" please know, day or night, I am only a phone call away from commiserating with you! Laura I agree that it seems an awfully invasive way to begin---which is one of the first questions I would ask him-then if nothing else see a renal Dr.---he should be able to pin point where the kidney is and if it would be an issue. IMHO. Ultrasound, even the internal is not a big deal. I was at my heaviest when I had my bout with cancer, and a standard ultrasound was useless, I had way too much belly flab to see anything, so I had many vaginal ultrasounds. A little uncomfy mentally---but not physically. And WOW what a size change! It spit snow off and on all day, nothing sticking, just keeping everything damp, so it can freeze tonight!! Yea, Michelles scale is moving, maybe mine will too! I have behaved very well today---no urges to do otherwise! Went to lunch with my folks, but I shared lunch with Kinsey, we had chicken and a salad...she had the fries, and the corn on the cob, and the dinner roll cjust sat there!!! She thinks sharing with me is such fun! She holds up a bite of something, say a cucumber and asks me if I want it before she eats it! I know being around me now, she is learning much better eating habits than I showed her Mom at that age. I made sure she ate a healthy diet, but didn't do so myself!!! Ms Jenn.....Haydee....Panda.....Lunasa.....where are y'all at? Miss you! Might have to call in the flying Monkeys!!! bwahahahaha!!!! Well I am off to cook some hamburger, it is tacos tonight. I decided that sounded good and easy---and Rick always loves them especially if I will fry him flour shells for his!!! I used to eat them too---and could eat 2-3 of them---the small flour tortillas, not the foot wide ones!!! Now I do one of the corn tortilla taco shells, and am good! But it is a lot of flavor in not a lot of food---which is the best of both for me!!! So I better get cooking and chopping, and shredding---did I say easy?????? Kat

I had all my blood work done when the hair loss began, and everything come back normal. I attributed it to the change in diet, and the shock to the body. I know for a fact I was getting more than enough protein. When the loss finally stopped, I breathed a massive sigh of relief....I was probably a bit premature in doing so! Just a few weeks ago I was diagnosed with a thyroid tumor, actually several of them, and had the center (the isthmus) and the entire right lobe removed. Now I get to see if the hair loss begins again...with more anesthetic, and more hormonal changes! Boy will the fun never end??? Kat

((((big old giant hugs)))) for you!!! You have helped your son see you in a new light. You have forged a whole new bond with him, and showed him, you have begun thinking of him as a man. I am willing to bet he will be one of your biggest supporters! Glad Dad come through too---and I like that you eased sons mind, should something ever happen to you from whatever cause. Sounds like you are on your way---------good Luck----it has been such an awesome change with my band, I love it, only wish I had discovered it sooner! Congrats on taking charge of your new life!! Kat

Oops was going to say if they won't prescribe something, hit some Ibuprofin, wash it through your pouch, but it will help. I would not normally suggest meds with our bands, but the ibuprofin works better than Tylenol for the crampy junk. Kat

Laura, you might call and speak to your Dr. or his nurse, and explain why you cancelled the appointment. Oftentimes they will prescribe one or 2 mild sedatives, similar to Valium--to relax you and make the tests easier on you and on them. I do not want to scare you, but there is a reason to do the testing now. Anything that is in the way or perceived by the body to be in the way can cause the body to spontaneously abort---miscarriage. It is very common, but it is also very difficult to deal with emotionally. Maybe make another appointment just to TALK to your OB/GYN. Ask what the risks are, and Why they want these tests now---and if there are less invasive, less painful ways of doing them....there might be---you don't know if you don't ask. I only tell you this to encourage you to be proactive to your fertility as opposed to reactive to tragedy. I know I sound like a Mom, and Hon, this is the advice I would give my own DD. Having lived through cancer of the uterus, I have had many tests with dye---and it is just as stated, a mild crampy feel while the body dispells the dye. If they do not prescribe something for you--and my Dr. always would if ask---and he learned to have it ready for me. He gave me diazipam or something like that---it has been a few years! Some tests---biopsies, I would take the day off and keep my feet up, other things, once the test was over, I was up and going again. Remember it is just like with the band--they must outline the worst possible so that no one is surprised by it. Hang in there, and make an appointment to talk with them about it all before giving up. 77 degrees! It is snowing out here....and a balmy 29 degrees! Fire is a blazing, because my granddaughter hates wearing pants!!! BBL~~ Kat

:Banane53::Banane21::Banane32::Banane22::Banane33::Banane01::Banane44::Banane35::Banane23::Banane03::Banane45::Banane13::Banane24::Banane02::Banane47::Banane04::Banane05::Banane27::Banane59::Banane06::Banane17::Banane07::bananajump::not_ripe::Banane09::Banane40::Banane08::Banane52::Banane20::Banane42::Banane10: Lots of dancin' Nanners for your drop into Onederland Sherry!!! You worked hard to get here and I am so proud of you!! (((big GIANT hugs!!!))) Kat

I have the utmost respect for my parents, did for my grandparents--to suggest differently simply because they used a controlled method of discipline that some deem bad is ridiculous! They did not spank/swat me because they outweighed me and could! They did it to teach me something---and they did. They did not teach me that I was their boss----that the world revolved around me. Look around you that is what you are getting in the world today! They did not teach me that lesson simply by bullying me! They were not abusive, most people are not! Explaining, and time outs work fine most of the time, but defying that, is what got me in trouble, and what got my children in trouble. We have no felons either. Although I do have a niece who is a crack head---oh yeah she doesn't count----they don't believe in spanking either. Oddly their older child is choosing to raise her kids totally different than she was raised...she has watched her sister spiral down right along with the rest of the family. I am not in ANY way saying that by not spanking her she became a druggie! I am just saying, it did not prevent it. There is MUCH, MUCH more to raising a child than that. It did NOT cause it---but neither did it PREVENT it. And if you want to bring respect into it, I have never in my life seen kids treat parents more disrespectfully than they were. They walked all over the parents back then, and still do. They are not self supportive even in their 30's! They were shown no boundaries, and still have none. They borrow money---well borrow is the wrong word--that implies re payment, non stop! The point to this rambling (it IS early!!) is that parenting can be effective with or without spanking. That is only part of the picture. I do not believe anyone here condones abuse of a child. I do believe we all view what constitutes abuse differently. I just disagree with the blanket statements coming out of the discussion that one cannot respect parents who spank---BULL! And people who are spanked will be less successful? BULL! All swats are abusive? In my opinion--once again BULL! A look around here on LBT, which is just a small sampling will show differently, some were disciplined with spanking, and have gone on to be very successful, and have not become abusers due to it, and it seems they still care about their parents! Kat

Editing, is a real challenge here!!! Welcome to LBT!!! Glad you come out of lurker mode! Congrats on your surgery date--it will be here before you know it! Get all your things together, so you can take it easy for a few days when you get home. Have some liquid Protein items on hand, liquid Tylenol--heating pad---and your slippers---you will want to do lots of walking! Hang out, so your last minute nerves can be reassured for you---most of us got them! I look forward to hearing how it goes for you!! Welcome! Kat

Michelle!!! You are going to have to change your screen name to Wonder Woman!!! My gosh girl, you amaze me! Glad surgery went well. Tomorrow, walk and sip, walk and sip, and walk and sip some more! I did not get in the amount they hoped I would following surgery, but by about the 3rd day I was drinking enough to satisfy anyone! I walked almost non stop! But I was in the hospital for almost 3 days! I had it done on the morning of day 1, and spent all that day, all the next, and went home the morning of day 3! But I had a 5 hour flight, and about 5 hours of driving as well---so it was best I waited! Go get some rest. If you are going to try to sleep in bed, try putting a dining chair next to the bed---it helps to have something to use for leverage getting in and out of the bed! Let us know how you feel tomorrow! You are a bandster---wooohooo!!! Kat

I'm like you Michelle, I can and do eat pretty much anything that strikes my fancy!!! I cannot eat much of it---I do still have some restriction, but this to me is ideal! I am losing slowly---I need to update my ticker, but it is so dadgummed touchy, it seems everytime I want to change it, it tells me I now have too many lines! When I don't change anything but a number! Anyway, I have seen 183 for a couple of days now. I am 5'9" and I wear a 12-14. I can walk in and buy a 14 and wear it without issue. The 12's----it's a toss, some of them work, others do not. And the size change is a wierd one I think, they seem to not only have sized down some, but the stride seems to fit differently. Possibly due to all this yucky pouch of skin and flab!!! Be Gone Belly!!! The only thing I will not try to eat again, is glazed donuts. Oh they hurt me so bad! I took 2 bites, and it grew to feel like I ate a dozen whole donuts----I don't need them anyway, so I avoid them completely!!! We are being predicted more snow tonight, we are in a winter storm warning. I guess it might as well be winter, and get it over with!! Rick built a fire, then went to bed, and it is roasting me alive. Must be why I am losing weight, I am melting! I went into the LR a minute ago, and it is 86 degrees in there!!! Now it normally is very warm in there, and less so in the more distant rooms, like our bedroom which is fine, we prefer to sleep with it a little cool. But then it is still warm come morning, and we can simply throw a piece of wood into the coals, and have fire again. But tonight, oh my goodness, he built a biggun! Jane, glad your sleep study is over, hope your blood work is all good! Denise---how is the little Mommy to be? How many Christmas presents have you bought the baby? LOL--I am not laughing at you, I was such a fanatic when Manda had Kinsey, it was not funny! Well tonight when I went to the Grocery store, I was going to buy ice cream, even had my favorite, and Ricks in the cart. It was BOGO free, so...why not? I was shopping along, and though WTH am I doing? So walked all the way back across the store, and put it away. I come home without buying the ice cream!! Yea!!! Laura---doesn't your boss know how much the Violets help you out? Doesn't he want to reward us for that? Bonus money for all your Purple Powered Pals!!! You ought to take pictures of you and DH with all that moolah!!! You could roll around in it like you see on TV---I'd be afraid of losing some! Tracy---keep the ice, snow is bad enough!!! Pamela---I see you on line, we might be posting at the same time--HI!!! TracyK, you and Terry must be hording all the sunshine! Well I better get with it, put some things away in the kitchen, start the DW and go to bed! Will talk to y'all in the morning! Kat

Cards are mailed! Secret Santa is mailed! So....everyone is getting something, but someone is getting more! LOL Kinsey actually sat on Santa's lap and had a conversation with him today. She told him she wanted toys. He ask her what kind of toys? Maybe a Dora toy, or a Princess toy? She said yes to both! Then she told him she wanted to have flowers to give to her Mommy. So...made a mental note, to get some flowers to show up Christmas morning. She told him she would leave him milk and Cookies, but no raisins they look like bugs---and launched into telling him about her Cereal one morning had bugs! It did---weevils---she did NOT eat it! I threw it out, but it made an impression!! Up where we got stuck, they received an additional foot of snow today, and they have a ranger there I guess, warning of the road being closed at 7 tonight. One of the guys who was stuck as well, that had placed a call to me to keep me informed, called to say they got their truck out today with a wench truck. What a mess! We got some pics, I will try to post some. Remember last week, Rick worked for his employee whose Dad died? He was very upset for the kid, his Dad was younger than us, and died chopping wood? Well imagine this, he goes to work today and gets a call from the kids wife, and Dad is alive and well, and worker is on a drinking binge!!! She said she found out why he was out of work, and left him--running over his foot! Rick give him 2 options....Employee Assistance to deal with his alcohol problem, or a final paycheck. He had not been in to sign up for the program. Rick was so upset, he really felt bad for him. The guys took up a $$$ collection, they actually ordered flowers---the florist called today! Can you believe how horrible of a lie that is to tell??? Well I need to get dinner going....will check in later! (((hugs))) and watch for the mailman!!! Kat

WoooHoooo perfect job! WTG Patty--so happy for you! You will be smokin' hot before we know it! Mandy---any way to find out if they have an Ipod or something---you could do an itunes card, then they could choose the music. You could get a gift card to a local book store, a little book light, some cozy slippers, and give them a little down time, reading what they want instead of grading papers! When my DD was in 1st grade, her teacher was young just setting out. I helped enough to hear her talk about her life, and knew her Grandmother was still in Germany. About Thanksgiving, I was flipping channels and QVC had these ornaments on, hand blown and painted German designer ornaments. It was a set of 24...had Santa, and angels, and bells, and french horns, you name it! I sent a note home with each of the kids---with the help of the teachers aid! Out of 22 notes sent home, 19 responded with money! When the ornament package was divided it was less than $4.00 per child. When they come in the mail, I opened the box, and wrapped them each individually in boxes, and labeled them from each child in the class. At the party (yes we were still allowed to have Christmas parties!) the first 2 kind of surprised her! The very first one, she told the kids a story about this being just like the kind of ornaments her Grandma had, and she loved it! Then when the second one was opened, she was still amazed, by the 3rd one, she of course recognized what was going on, and I appeared with the case to hold them. My DD graduated HS in 1999---so you can do the math, this was many years ago. I still see the teacher in the grocery store on occasion, and she says she still has most of them, she has raised several children and has a dog with a wicked tail she said!!! Unfortunately I did not get a chance to do something equally fitting for many of her teachers. I was not able to be in the classroom as much then...so often reverted back to gift baskets...like you mentioned before, the movie basket etc. They all seemed to like that though! Kat

Will be thinking of you today!! Hope everything goes wonderfully, and you have an uneventful surgery and recovery! See ya in bandland!!! Kat

Do you have issue with other hard Proteins? Can you eat say, Roast beef? Hamburger? Pork? Not Tuna and other fish that is so soft. If you can eat some hard Protein and not the chicken then I would guess it is just going to be a trigger food for you---but I would make sure I could eat at least some hard protein before scheduling another fill. I try to keep chicken as well as other meat moist, and it is much easier, reheating meat is VERY difficult, almost always is too dry. I have restriction, enough to trigger me when I eat too much, and enough to slowly lose, but I choose not to be too tight, I would prefer toget my nutrition from food as opposed to shakes or supplements--so have opted not to be as tight as some people want to be---which might be why I can eat most any thing without issue. I was afraid of shrimp, it seems hard to chew to mushy stage, but it was not an issue either. If you cannot eat any HARD protein without pain, I would suggest discussing it with your Dr. just to be on the safe side.

This makes me laugh, I watched part of Oprah's speech on the news---missed it when it aired. I ask my husband..."Is she trying to be funny? She acts like she is channeling a preacher!" Then I read this and the light went on! You nailed it, she was "doing" MLK!!! Now this morning when I saw it again on another news report, it just cemented it-----you are SO right! Kat

Denise, I think that definitely is part of it, if not the entire issue! I was banded in April, in May my DH was diagnosed with a bad heart valve, and with one complication after another---it was a horrible year...blood clots, open heart surgery, massive GI bleed, more heart surgery....and then, as his issues tapered off, so did my loss of hair. Now whether it was just the standard time line for loss, or whether it was connected, I have no idea, but it may well explain it. So sorry to hear of your loss, regardless how long ago it was....((((big hugs)))) Kat

I was glad to wake up this morning and everyone be where they were supposed to be! Especially when we looked outside, and there was another couple of inches of snow here---and according to the news/weather---the mountains where they were got another 10 inches, with more snow off and on for the next 36-48 hours. If they hadn't got that truck out, it likely would have been spring before it got out! My son would have had a coniption fit! Which I understand he did a little of anyway! Rick said he did not handle the whole situation well...which does not surprise me! SS gift goes out today!! It has 2 weeks, hope it is ok. I have the box stuffed full! Secret Santa, when you get this box--I will explain a bit more! Judy, hope you are feeling better. We used to rub Vicks on the bottom of Kinseys feet. Now they are putting it on Lindzies, trying to see if it will help with her seasonal asthmatic nagging cough. Rick and I heard about it during a class I conned him into taking with me, on reflexology. He moaned and grumbled about agreeing to go, but he loves the foot massages now!! They told us toxins exit the body through the feet, and things can be absorbed through the feet. Now keep in mind they also believe anything can be helped or cured by ministering to the feet!! Sinus infection? Rub here! Sciatica? Rub here! Annoying neighbor? Apply here! LOL I had planned to take my Mom to town today, but will depend on Best Buy. They are delivering the TV for my inlaws to my house today. Then the siblings from Denver will show up to make a big presentation with it, make a massive mess, and leave! Then we will get to go out, and decide where to put the videos, and DVD's, and the photo albums, and tons of grandkids and great grandkids pictures. All the things that are currently in an entertainment center. The new TV of course will not have that space. It is free standing. No shelving etc. I am sure we will end up buying a shelf unit for them. We will be left to figure out how to connect all the accesories. They will leave and then everyone at church and at Walmart, and anywhere else that will listen will hear what wonderful kids they have....in Denver!! I have to joke about it, or it gets really old! It hurts me for Rick and his sister here. His sister takes his Mom to town at least once a week, helps buy all the groceries...keeps things like that up. Rick just spent an entire day replacing the stove pipe on their woodstove. To the tune of almost $200.00---they did not have a clue, gave him $40.00 to buy materials! He bought the rest, and did the work. We deal with the cattle he runs, and all the hay each year....and I never hear them brag a single word about what he does for them. I don't care if they never utter my name, but I really wish they would treat Rick better---be more appreciative. oh well, it is an old wish.....I just keep wishing it, and praying for them all! When do you get out for winter Break Pamela? Soon??? Yeehaw! I got my card Saturday--we had a good laugh! I have had a toilet seat design, I keep threatening to patent--but I am sure it has been done, and never caught on!!! You know the step on the peddle type trash cans, where the lid lifts? Voila! Step up, up the lids goes, walk away, down it comes again! LOL Cindy---I will forward your info to our girls, and send you our list today. So now that you have my address, when you win the millions, you know where to share! Michelle---I can guarantee you my DH said, he is not going hunting again period! He only went worried that something like this would happen and Gary would be there alone. And then our son, thought woohoo fun time---wrong! Rick said, If Gary did not learn anything, then he cannot help him, and will not do it again, but will remind him of this! Gary was raised in an area of Texas that seldom gets any snow, and he has not got a clue! He did not know how to drive in it, it is a miracle that he actually let Rick drive! Learning to steer into a slide is so hard! We took a winter driving school in Steamboat Springs CO. It is a big school run by Bridgestone Tires. They have a huge area that they flood and let freeze. Then they take you out in small groups, and teach you what to do and what not to do. How to turn on a curve with ice...it was scary as heck at first, then got to be kinda fun. The last time Rick went, they would not pay for spouses, so I didn't get to go! wah! They have everything from little cars to semi's to drive. I have much more confidence now than before. Well, I am going to go get things done here, and get Kinsey and I ready so if the TV gets here this morning, we will be ready to go soon after. She needs a bath. She got into gum. Manda come in, and was half mad, half giggling--Kinsey has gum stuck...right in the crease between her leg and her girlie parts! Give her some cooking oil, off come the gum, but now she is oily!!! So we are warming up the house good, and hitting a bubble bath! Be back in awhile girls! Kat

Got word last night Rick and son Lenny are stuck, unable to get out, the storm hit them hard, and they are in no less than 4 feet of new snow, on top of what was already there. We heard this morning they were still stuck. We are getting calls from people we don't know, that are making the calls when they get off the mountain. Most of them have people stuck as well. They are in a national forrest. So DD's boyfriend Ryan and I took off, the camp they were in was 3-4 hours away. We got there, and the place is 5 miles off the road, we got in maybe half a mile and even with 4WD we had to chain up! But someone had stolen (work truck) one of the chain tighteners, so every 100 yards it seems we threw the chain, and landed inthe snow bank! We shoveled and rechained, eventually the chain broke, and we tried, but almost went over an embankment about 2.75 miles in. We were stuck. We opted to try to walk in to their camp. We heard a truck about half a mile from our truck, and stepped off the road, and the snow was crotch deep! It was my son--unstuck, when he saw us he tried to stop--and ended up sliding, directly at us!!! Ryan grabbed me, and we ended up in the actual bar ditch to the road, and the boys had to dig me out, I was chest deep in snow. Now soaked, we went back to try to get our truck out, which they did. Rick and Gary were breaking camp, finally coming down the mountain---we headed on out, come up on a truck, stuck of course! Helped him out, and finally made it home about 2 hours ago! What a friggin' day! In the door, and straight to the shower! Rick showered and collapsed in bed! What I did for a few hours today did me in, and he has been doing that for 2 days----of course I quickly and frequently reminded him he CHOSE that ---I did not! Anyway--we are all home, and staying that way as another storm is hitting as I type! This forrest is on the NM/CO border on the NorthEast corner--and it is getting pounded again! If we had not got out---it would have required a snow cat to move us! I love my home tonight!!! Talk to you all tomorrow! (((hugs))) Kat

Hi girls- Just a quick check in before I go to bed. Word came in this morning, that the truck was still stuck---so Manda's boyfriend, Ryan and I took off--it is a 2-3 hour drive away. The next storm is on its way in, the sky is gray, and yucky all day! We made it to where we go off the main road, onto forest access roads. The snow was gorgeous! Thick in the forrest trees--looked like someone had blown white icing all over everything. That is the only good thing I can say about it! Other than that, it was cold---bitterly cold----and wet! We had 4 WD but didn't get 1/2 a mile in to the 5 mile venture, and had to chain up. Well this is a company truck, and lo and behold someone had taken off with one of his chain tighteners, so we kept throwing the chain, and everytime we did, we would slide into the snow bank, and have to dig ourselves back out, and rechain -a royal PITA with a dually truck. We eventually ended up breaking the chain. So we are trying to get there with both front tires chained and one rear dually. We made it about 2.75 miles, and damn near ended up off over an embankment. Dumped the truck into the trees...and were not going further without assistance. We were stuck as well. A couple of guys on little snow cat snow machines come by, they too had 2 trucks stuck further up. Ryan and I discussed it, and made the choice to walk on the next mile or 2 and get to their camp. We got about half a mile up the road, and a truck was coming down, we stepped to the side of the road--we were able to hear it, but not see it yet. When we stepped off the road, the snow went crotch deep! I am 5'9" that is pretty deep! Well it was my son coming down the mountain. He saw us, and tried to stop, which put him into a slide, right at us, Ryan grabbed me, and we ended up in the bar ditch, Lenny got stopped, and together they dug me out, I was in chest deep! So now I am soaked through and through! They finally got his truck out, Rick and Gary were finishing loading up the camp and heading down. So we rode back to our now stuck truck...and somehow my son managed to turn his truck around and get enough traction and speed, he yanked Ryans service truck out--that thing weighs 17,500 lbs! But we have 2 trucks free but no sign of Rick and Gary.....just as Lenny and I decide to go back that they must have slid off or got stuck again, they come around the curve!! YEA 3 trucks, 3 trucks unstuck!!! We have all 4 tires on the 2 trucks chained and in 4WD---and Ryan has 3 tires chained, and we manage to make it almost out, and come up on a truck----yep----stuck! The guys managed to help him get out, and we squeezed by him, and went on--we got home about 8 this evening. I landed my frozen butt in the shower! Rick showered and went straight to bed, he is exhausted. I am now going to join him! They fought for hours on end to unstick sons truck, and eventually it would not move because the chassis was froze to the ground! As for NM weather, it is wierd...it changes fast and furious! Where I am, there is not lots of snow usually, small amounts, not lasting long. Occasionally we will hit a storm and end up with a foot of snow, but not real often. Where they were though was in the mountains. Well over 7500 feet in altitude...and there were 5 foot drifts, and deeper, that looked like just a layer of snow! Deceptive! It is only about 11 miles from my front door to the Colorado State line---so weather is not what most expect out of NM!! Well I will catch up tomorrow---just wanted you to all know we are all home, and dry! Thanks so much for the concern! ((((hugs))) Kat

Part of your pain is likely from pushing to drink the suggested amounts. Sip steadily, but don't push to a point of feeling like you are overloading your stomach I would suggest. Slowly the amount you can take in will adjust, and the pain will lessen as the swelling goes down. It IS important to get proper nutrition, but sometimes you need a couple days just for healing, then you can move on with much less pain. Give your stomach a chance to really relax, and settle down--sip steadily, but don't push it. Walk as much as you can--even short walks, stroll around the house every hour....stay where you have something for support, since you are not getting much nutrition you might get a little light headed. Walk, sip, walk, sip.....repeat! Over and over again! It cannot be said enough! And as soon as you can up the Protein some so that you feel more energetic---and soon all these post surgery issues will be behind you! Hang in there, and welcome to bandland all you recent bandsters!! Glad you're here! Kat