Hello and good morning my friends. Welcome to Banders #7. So, I guess I'll start it off by saying how grateful I am today and every day for the new lease on life that I have. I walked to the office today from the train station. That was something I couldn't do before the surgery. I always say how light I feel and I realized it's not a state of mind, but a physical reality. We are weighed down by the excess weight and all that goes with it. When we don't rumble and jumble as we walk, our steps are lighter. I was listening to my ipod and started to dance a little as I was walking. I'm sure I looked ridiculous, but who cares? When one is thin, even looking ridiculous seems OK.

I am grateful for my for my beautiful grandson who I was able to tuck into my lap last Saturday morning so we could play while Mommy and Daddy got to sleep in a bit. I'm grateful that I fit anywhere and everywhere. No more worrying if I will break a chair, or be able to navigate a booth at the restaurant, or walk down a narrow aisle without having to suck it all in just to get past someone/something.

I'm grateful for my health. I take alot of pills, but many of them are supplements and not prescription for chronic ailments. I'm grateful that I can walk again...that I can swim, bike, climb, and yes....enjoy sex. I am surprised at how flexible I can be now that I'm thin.

I'm grateful that I earn enough money that I can indulge my new found love of shopping. I really think I'm one of the best dressed ladies in the office these days...and I know I've upped the game for others. I am definitely seeing more dresses than I did a year ago.

I'm grateful to Alex for having this site available...and I'm grateful to all the folks on it who are part of my success. I know I would not have been as successful as I have been if not for all of you. I talk about things here that I don't talk to anyone else about. You all know the struggles of being fat, and immobile, and feeling like a failure regardless of what we've accomplished..and I know now how much we 'hidden' people have accomplished. It's helping me to not turn that self hatred towards others still struggling with obesity. It also reminds me that I will always struggle with obesity. Under this thin person still lurks the fat girl. She is the one who whispers in my ear all the time that I'm not worthy of the good things out there and I should just order a pizza and eat the whole thing. She and I clash daily and it's why I still go every Tuesday to the therapist who listens and helps me to navigate this new world I inhabit.

Well...I think I've posted enough for today. Feel free to comment on the above, or share your stories, or say hi, or just lurk. Enjoy your day today...enjoy the upcoming holiday, and looking forward to a wonderfully robust Banders #7 thread.

Liz

@ Jim1967 CONGRATS! OMGOSH TWINS , you'll be busy , I bet you & your Wife are excited , again Congratulations.

The greatest Valentine's Day for you Jim!! Happy for your family!!????

Wonderful news Jim! Best to you and Kelly!!

Congratulations!!

Thank you very much!

Woo Hoo littles one to try and keep up with.

Wonderful for you both. So awesome that you are now healthy enough to take care of your children. God Bless you all.

All awesome posts to catch up on! Congrats Jim and everyone is looking great and I hope all are keeping warm and thinking SPRING!!!

What a week we have had. My youngest daughter has been in and out of two different emergency rooms over the last five days. She had strep throat, but penicillin was not keeping her 104 fever down. Finally, today, she is taking a turn for the better. It is so hard to be 300 miles away from her when all this has been happening. By pure chance, I was visiting both of my daughters at college last weekend when the first emergency room visit took place. She has been tested for meningitis, mono, two types of flu, strep throat, and three tick borne illnesses. Turns out she had been bitten by a tick in January and didn't remember it until the doctor asked her about it. She thought she had been bitten by a spider over three weeks ago. The tick borne illness tests are still being analyzed but she's on the med used to treat it just in case.

I can't remember ever being this scared before. But today she's getting her pep back and fever is staying low. She's on two antibiotics right now.

Having a child sick is awful. Having a child sick long distance is excruciating.

JWM...sending you {{hugs}}

At the risk of losing my Man Card I am going to share what a coworker sent to me..

Enc. Note 2-23-16.pdf

@@JustWatchMe sending prayers and {{hugs}} your way!!

@@jfc193 Man card remains intact!! Thank you for sharing, we all need a pick me up now and again.

@@JustWatchMe hope things get better , yes us being parents NO matter how old our kids are they are still our babies & definitely get afraid when their not close or when their sick it is VERY Scarry to us as parents.

@@jfc193 like Lisacaron said Man card in tact , good read for us , because some of us fall off, stall & try to get back on & yesterday is yesterday , today is today , Thank-you for that .

Thinking of you JWM... It is never ending being a caring and worried parent. Hoping for the best. Glad this community is here for all of us to share our changing lives[emoji171]

She's feeling better today and the temp has stayed under 100. Doc says it has turned around.