Hi there. Just wanted to see if I could build a new home with some new (and hopefully old) friends. I do not wanna be 'homeless' anymore so here I am! This is gonna be a place for friends to meet (hopefully) and talk about anything & everything.

My name is Tracy and I live in Deer Park, Texas. I have been married for 6 years. I was banded in April '07. Got 4 pounds away from goal, quit smoking and gained 46-50 pounds back so I am on my journey again. This time as a non-smoker :w00t:

This is a life change and with it comes lifelong friends...wanna come along for the ride? :blushing:

Today was a special day.

This is the date, four years ago, that my beautiful daughter was born! She is the light of my life and she is my heart!

Love ya all!

Michelle, happy birthday to your daughter!!

Getting dressed to go to summer school planning.

Suzanne-let me tell ya....she prob only has her dads demeanor at school. For the most part, she is me made over. So the good part is, at least she knows WHEN to be like me and when to be like her dad. LOL She will stay out of trouble that way plus when she needs to have attitude, out pops mini-me. I am a lucky momma :thumbup:

I will be thinking of you today and DO text me, ok?

Good morning everyone! TODAY is the awards ceremony so I do not have long to post. Have a super duper day!

Do not read Kat's post when you just wake up and your eyes are still adjusting. I thought she wrote that she was teaching a jerk class today. OMG.

Tracy, either way, she is just too cute for words. Can't wait to meet her this summer.

Michelle, tell your DD I said to have a very Happy Birthday.

Cindy, have a good time at your planning.

Bethany, no need to apologize. I had actually ran into a friend earlier that day and she is the one who said it to me and it just brought out some feelings that had been festering in me. My rant is over and I learned a valuable lesson by it. I learned I am a strong person but most of all I learned that I belong to an amazing group of astonishing women. You guys rock. Thanks for hanging there with me.

Now to go dry my hair and go get my sister taken care of so I can go to see the surgeons.

Make it a good one.

Well I taught my jerk class at 10 this morning!!! OK was a clerk class.....teaching the election clerks what they are expected to do in the polling places come Tuesday. Now in a few minutes I get to go find out what all MY duties will be as presiding judge.

Thought I would have time to post, but Megan just showed up--will do it tonight!

Thinking of you Suzie!!!

Well, summer school planning went ok. I knew going in, that my partner teacher and I were going to get screwed in the deal, since it is teaching kids that aren't from our school. They did (the coordinating teachers), in fact, think they were screwing us. They gave us the very lowest of the kids. Literally, they ordered them from highest to lowest and gave us the ones from the bottom. My partner teacher and I talked with the SPED teachers that will be in the room with us and let them know that we were fine with it. We rock and we do our jobs well. This way, when the kids make progress, and they will, we will look awesome. I had special ed kids all year long and did amazing things with them. Ok, now I am finished giving myself a pep talk.

How was y'all's day?

Oh, and I think it is time for a little fill. :thumbup: We went to Wendy's for lunch and I ordered a small chili and a sour cream and chive baked potato and I ate it all:scared2:

Hi Guys. Hubby, younger sis and I went to see the Spine Specialist today. Looks like next Thursday I will go in for surgery. He said that the cyst is taking up 2/3 of the spinal column and pushing on the spine which is causing all the pain. They put the MRI up on the screen and my sis said "OMG, look how big it is". I just laughed and told her that that was my port. LOL. Anyway when the Doc put the screen with the cyst on it up, you could really see how big the cyst is. Doc is concerned because the MRI is not showing where the cyst is coming from. He can't see any fingers to it to see what is feeding it. So they were going to turn it into the insurance company and if all goes well I will be admitted to the hospital next Thursday.

Wednesday night hubby and I work at the hospital and I told him I like that because I can now sterilize my own surgery equipment. :thumbup:

Now I have to find someone to cover my shift at work for a few days for me.

Wednesday I will go to the hospital to have my echocardiogram done and then head over to the older sisters to let her know what is going on. For the last 6 months we have kept all of this from her. The lung, back and heart cyst. So I will have to go explain it to her. There is just no way I'm going to be able to slip this in under the radar. She'll wonder why I can't drive her to an appointment or do shopping for her. So I will go over and sit with her and tell her the whole story. This should be interesting.

We came home and oldest nephew came over and helped us get the steps done for the pool. He got in and I went and put my bathing suit on. I tried getting in but 84 degrees was a little too cool for me. So I sat on the steps and gradually lowered myself in to the water. Before I knew it I was up to my chest. So I grabbed a floaty chair and nephew and I floated for about an hour. It felt so good on my back and hip. He's got the girlfriend coming over here soon with the boys so that they can go swimming. Fun time here tonight,

Hope you all had a great day. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers. But please keep them coming. Next Thursday is going to be a worrisome day for me.

HUGS.

So SUZANNE.....what exactly happens after you are admitted? What kind of procedure are they going to do and what part of your body? Thanks for texting, sorry i did not get on here faster than you to post :thumbup:

Macy has another girl scouts meeting tonight so....i need to run. The awards ceremony went GREAT! I am SO proud of her. Only 6 kids in her class got an excellent hehavior award. I know it has really boosted her self esteem!

Suzie, I hope all goes well with your insurance claim and your surgery. My prayer for you is that your sisters will step up and help you without being asked.

They will make a 1 1/2 inch incision at my L4-L5 area on my lower back. He said it will take them bout 2 hours to do the whole thing. I will go to the hospital that morning and then be released the following day if all goes well.

Oh dear, right in the middle of this post my Band Doc called to tell me I have been approved for my Hiatal Hernia surgery. I told them what was going on with the Spine Doc. They suggested that I get in next Tuesday or Wednesday and get a slight unfill. They said there will be a lot of swelling in that area and that I might feel better with the unfill. I think I might take them up on it.

Woo-hoo Suzie!!! So glad the ball is rolling for you! I hope you get some relief soon, both physically and mentally.

Michelle- Happy birthday to your DD!! Any updates on the dog/house situation?

Cindy- I'm thinking you must be pretty special to get the kids that need the most help...and you have the right attitude!

Tracy- I giggled at you getting your dates wrong for Macy's awards. That is something I would do.

I am working this week until 6 or better every night (we take turns with "closing the road" or staying until all of the cargo is out for the day). Next week I will be getting off at 4:00 pm. I think Thursday would be a good day, if that is good for you?

I am so ready to go home. I think what hit me yesterday was pure exhaustion. I go, go, go and can't slow my brain or body down. After napping for a long period yesterday, I still slept through the night. I guess I needed it?!?!

I had a disturbing call with a collection agency today at work. They were looking for some guy named Auturo S______. I told the woman three times that this was a business and that nobody worked here by that name. Apparently she thought I was lying and proceeded to dial and redial my number a million times (because I stopped answering). When I finally answered, getting ready to BE rude, she layed into me. Uh, no. I ended the conversation with f-you. My boss heard me. I do not make it a practice of speaking to people like that so I think she knew whatever was going on was pushing me over the edge. I went and expained it to her and needless to say, I am very grateful that I did not get into trouble over that one .

Tomorrow is a new day, right??

Angela

Angela, You are so lucky that your boss was understanding about the phone call. I get those here at home and explain that there is no one here by that name. I even tell them to call the phone company to see who the phone is registared too. They still call back. They here our answering machine and still ask for those people. Not sure what it will take to get thru to them.

Cindy, you have every right to pat yourself on the back!!! You go girl!!!!

I need a fill too. Eating WAY too much at one time!

Suzanne, you know you are in my prayers! No apologies needed! For your vent/feelings re: family OR your shaving habits! LOL!

Tracy, congrats to Macy! What a kid!!

Angela, strange phone call. Glad your boss was so understanding!

Kat, glad MIL doesn't have cancer. Her attitude amazes me. Sad.

Bethany, I loved what you said to Suzanne. She is awesome but it doesn't mean she needs to put up with their crap!

What happened to Jolly?

Thanks for all the b-day wishes for DD. She had a great day yesterday! DH bought her a REAL fishing pole and she can't wait to go! He is planning a day to take her next week.

Last couple of days for the yarn shop. I am so upset! It's going to be a rough weekend!

Better get. DD is stalling and needs to get in to her bed!

Hugs to y'all!

Oh my Suzie----2/3 of the spine is involved? Thank God it was found! I am so glad they are moving quickly on it! I think the unfill is a good plan---you will be on meds, and with anesthesia sometimes you get nauseated.....I agree with the band doc (like that matters!!!)

Went to class, taught a class, worked my shift, went to dinner with the family, watered the garden, and now sitting back. DD brought over a local magazine with an article on the derby girls---our youngest is on the cover, and Manda is in the middle, arm in a sling and all. And get this----she is regaining movement---it appears the nerve is in tact!!!

Yay for Macy!!!

Happy belated for Teagan!!

Happy school is out for a few days for Cindy---you will WOW them I am sure!!!

Bethany, Angela, Jenn, everyone---I will be done with all this soon----and have time to "get to know" you new girls and catch up with you old timers!!!

Take care!

Nothing like a crappy 3 hour sleep before having to go work for 6 hours. It's gonna be a long day. I was really tired when I hit the bed but the brain went into overtime. Finally got to sleep but kept waking up and the mind would start racing again. So now it's awake when it doesn't want to be. Can't do anything about it now. Looks like a nap is in store for later.

Michelle, glad to hear DD had a great day.

Can't wait to have Kat back full time.

Everyone have a great day. I'll check in when I get home from work.