katt

BJean, Talala is north of Tulsa about 35 miles. Katt

BJean you always say things so well. Katt

In my effort to become more active on this board and quit lurking, I'm going to do something I typically don't do and dive right in. I have one child that I love desperately, although I really don't much care for children. My DD, on the other hand, had 6 and she and my SIL are trying to adopt another whole family. I realize that compared to 17, six is not very many but for me it's a bunch. They are very fundamentalist and she does home school. They are beautiful, bright, healthy, happy, well-adjusted kids. Oldest is 17. Youngest 5. Incredible family if I do say so myself. My DD is an RN although she is no longer employed outside the home. My SIL earns $12.00/hr max. They live in a 1600 sq. ft. house. They live hand to mouth but require no public assistance. I both love and admire them. Katt

Let me tell you about my DD. She is 37, a registered nurse, stay at home full time Mom. My son-in-law is a kind, gentle man. The are raising 6 wonderful, beautiful, healthy, happy, well-adjusted (IMHO with only a little bias) children. They home school. My oldest granddaughter graduated from highschool last year (a full year early) and will begin college this Aug. The state they live in will not allow them to foster parent because they home school. How ridiculous is this? PERHAPS one of the reasons they are so healthy is due to home schooling? Our public school system hasn't done such a good job. Katt

BOH I live in Talala, Oklahoma on week-ends and Kansas City during the week. I drive back and forth thru Coffeyville. This week-end was the first in 3 weeks that we haven't been detoured around Coffeyville. It was awful. The water hasn't reached our house in Talala but my DD and her 6 kids live in Bartlesville (which has flooded off and on for the past 2 weeks) and they have been stranded several times. Thank the Lord they live on high ground and the water hasn't reached them. I am very sympathetic however and also stir crazy from rain. Additionally we have 5 dogs. Also not on purpose. My sinuses are on constant drip. My eyes itch, burn, and water continuously. There are muddy paw prints everywhere and my hair is permanently frizzed. The grass is up to my waist and we have 1 1/4 acres. We live in the area of Okla they call Green Country and the weather said yesterday it has rained here every day for the past 36 days. Arghhh. I love Okla but I never wanted to live in the tropics. Katt

This thread has motivated me more I think, than the before and after pics. It makes me remember. And since it wasn't that long ago I think I can. I felt terrible. I have a very active, stressful job that requires energy, optimism, and enthusiasm. It was becoming more and more difficult to perform. I have 6 grandchildren and we were planning a trip to Washington, D.C. and I knew I couldn't keep up. I so wanted to play with the kids. I had tried every diet known to man and a few I made up myself. I was discouraged, defeated, depressed. Then a lady came into my office to apply for a job. She had lost a lot of weight with the lap band and she was (hard to believe this one) older than me! I started investigating, found you guys and the rest is history. I have lost 30 lbs (recently gained 3 back) but am ready to go at it again with renewed vigor. Thanks to you all. I don't post a lot, but you guys make my life better. Katt

Yup - I have gone from a 44D to a 40 long. Katt

The 18 yr old me would have never imagined I woud be divorced and in the career field I chose. She would not have dreamed I would be as successful as I am. She thought I would stay married, raise babies, and be a housewife. I've always been overweight but she would not believe I gained as much as I did. I think she would be shocke and appalled...but I like me better now. Katt

I'm from Okla. living in KC presently. Banded 9/13/06 in KC. Doing well. Love my band. Hope to be moving back to OK soon. Close on a house in Ochelata 12/21. Work up here tho. Katt

It's my signal to stop eating. It means I am satisfied. If I eat more....I will be too full and uncomfortable and maybe stretch my pouch or PB. Yuk. Katt

The beans at Taco Bell have 180 calories and 7 grams of fat. Not a horrible choice. I have had them a couple of times in a crunch. Katt

Well, I guess I was fortunate I didn't have to put sand in my clothes. They did not, however, measure me. The formula for BMI is weight times 703 divided by height in inches squared. Body measurements don't enter into it. I was self-pay as my insurance excludes all WLS. That sucks. I am an RN (as are many others here) and I recognize the many problems our health care system has. I know there are problems with nationalized health care programs in Canada and the UK but we have been trying to do things here in the old US of A for a long time now and it just seems that if we were to put our minds to it we would produce effective national health care. OK - I'll quit typing and run for my bomb shelter now. Katt

Hi Househuntress. I'm 58. I have high blood pressure, diabetes, take Crestor, and had a heart attack in 1994. I was banded a month ago. Nooo problem. I had to have a cardiology release, primary care physician recommendation, nutritionist visit, and psychological evaluation. No biggie. The surgery was a piece of cake. Recovery was easy. Had surgery on Wednesday an went back to work the following Monday. Last week I took 4 of my grandchildren to Washington, D.C. for 9 days. Hang in there. You can do it. Katt

Hi Lisa! Great to have you. I lurk most of the time anyway, but am thrilled to be banded. I'm in Kansas City also. What doc are you using? Katt

Faybie thank you for sharing about your port pain. I was banded 9/13 and my port still hurts when I have been up a long time or walked a lot or over done. It feels like my bra is just resting on it. Now I have hope that eventually it will go away. Katt