Stella..ahh non scale victory..got it lol

Well yesterday was a mess! I ate chocolate..paid for it last night with massive tummy aches! I really hope I learn fast to NOT eat it! Took me about 3 years to finally give up avacados that made me ill..good grief!

My youngest son has been having tummy issues. They did bloodwork and an upper and lower GI yesterday. The office called to tell me his liver enzymes are elevated. So they want an ultrasound done friday and repeat bloodwork on monday. I am scared outta my mind!! She said no white stuff..or refined sugar for him til we figure this out. Also to increase his dark greens. I didnt tell him about the elevated liver. He is like me and would worry himself into an I dont know what.

I know it's hard Cyn but try not to worry! I pray that all will be well with the ultrasound and bloodwork! Hang in there

Not much to report here. Staying on plan...exercising...got my teeth cleaned this AM I am getting my crown for my implant next Thursday...can't wait! Still waiting for test results. Wow...how boring am I?

Stella – excellent choice!! One leads to more way too easily. Then it is that much harder to stop next time, too.

Catherine – glad you got the reprieve. That ought to help. Just don’t procrastinate and have the same thing happen, again.

Brandnewme – good job on choosing to cook!! Eating better is more time-consuming but it is such a better choice!! Well done!

Babble – don’t bathe in your shake! Love the old art work. Such fun.

Cuter – love the idea of hotel naughty! Way to keep the marriage alive!

Neon – glad you got some baby juice. They do help the mood! Especially if you get to hand them off when they start crying!

I am home from surgery!! I had the Roux en Y surgery on Tuesday. Seems to have gone fine. Starting to heal. Lots of nausea. Lots of aches. Glad to be home! And working on my liquids. It's so much easier to drink 64 ounces when you can drink a whole bunch at a time.

The hotel naughty was perfect. We got some much needed us time...

Problem is my big mouth after round 1 said:

Wow this must me so much more comfortable now for you since I lost 60+ lbs...

LOL

He's like... yes... easier on the breathing. Way to kill a good one sweetie!




Fun all in all and he was so happy I felt he was worth the drive of 3 hours...

Crazy to think it is 61 lbs (at least) since oct 17th.

I just have to share!!!! I have been on this journey since March 1st and I am not supposed to get weighed and measured at Curves again til next week but since it is April 1st, I couldn't help myself, I had to get on the scale today and I am down another 5 lbs!!!! That makes my grand total for the month 19 lbs. I am so excited!! I know that sounds like a lot for the month but I haven't done anything drastic! Thanks be to God for ALL His help!!

thinmint-You're going to love your Wii more and more. There are so many great games for it. Congratulations on the 5 pound loss.

Cyn- I will keep you and your son in my thoughts. I know that the worry and waiting is very tough.

Torister- I hope your results come back as you are hoping for.

basketcase-Glad that you are home and recovering. I can't imagine trying to get so much water down when you have to drink it in such small portions. I hope you are feeling better soon.

cuter- Very glad to hear your hotel romp went well. Those are important to do sometimes.

It was pretty warm here the past few days. It may be time to bring out some shorts. That also means I will have to buy some new shorts. I can't wait to make some real progress so that clothes shopping is more fun. have a great Saturday everyone.

Greetings Peeps!

Basket, glad you are home and healing. Fluids first!! Even though it's been 2 months since my surgery, I still have to make sure to continually sip water to get in 64 oz. If plain water causes nausea, dilute with a little crystal light or squeeze a little lemon in it. Plain water on a wound is painful and sometimes adding just a little something to the water helps the nausea.

Yay for everyone's NSV and SVs!!!

Today is going to be a gorgeous day out. I tried to get one chore out of the way last night before guitar lesson, mowing the lawn. The lawnmower had other plans. I got 3/4 of the backyard done and it quit. After doing all my carbuerator tricks to get gas to it, I saw the safety cable has stretched and was shutting off the system. Doh. I got it started about 2 min before my lesson. I'll finish it today.

My cherry trees are blooming in the backyard, but not as nice as the yoshino trees downtown. The cherry blossom festival is in full force in downtown DC. I am hoping to get enough chores done to go take pictures at the Arboretum.

Hugs,
Ratkity

Just a quickie, DOWN 5lbs since Monday!!! I had yesterday (Good Friday) off as we were going for a meal for b-i-l's birthday. Back OP today, TOM arrived, sure the Reiki I had re-started it!!! Got trouble with my sciatic nerve again but not letting it be an excuse for eating, after all if I lose weight it should get better.
Really unhappy about b-i-l, he hadn't bathed or washed his hair, his skin looked 'burnt' or raw; I'm sure he's drinking a LOT; hubby was disgusted too. I don't know what to do, hubby wouldn't accept my drinking theory & frankly I have enough to worry about; my Dad is threatening to get a taxi or lift home from hospital ewven though he's still waiting for the by-pass, my Mum is crying coz of the worry about him.....Anyway I am OP & staying that way, no excuses!
xxxxxxxsharon
ps I will do peronals soon, just not quite up to it today.xxxxx

Stella: WTG on the great loss girl!!

Basketcase: I am glad you are home and doing well

babble: Warm here too I am in Airzona so summer is almost here

Sharon: Great loss!!

AS for me: Today we are having Easter with my uncle and aunt. Tomorrow I will have it at my sisters. We also applied for a house to rent. It is literally behind my aunt and uncles. It is a nice smaller house with NO MOLD! I hope we get it. They built the carport in so actually it has a den. That will be where the computer and my crafts go. We have LOTS of mosquitos coming into our house..wonder if it is from the water soaking into the floors.

Today I am going to clean and get alot done on my cousins baby quilt. She had him a week ago so I would like to get it to her in the next few weeks.

Justin..our youngest had his ultrasound done yesterday. He gets his bloodwork done again on monday. I pray he is better

Hi everyone!

Sorry I have been gone so long. Just kind of sunk down into the depression hole. I however am 3 lbs lighter. And I got my first compliment today! It was my mum, but still...

Still kind of having a hard time with everything. I am skipping church tomorrow, which officially makes me the worst Theology student ever. But I feel like hiding. Yes, even from God.

My brain is too zapped right now (it's almost 4 am) for personals, but I will be back tomorrow!

Happy Easter, everyone.

Blessings.

Had a nice moment on the phone with my mom lastnight (I couldn't make it home for Easter). She told me that she picked up some cute chocolates for my sister (little chocolate VW Beetle and Jeep) and the usual chocolate bunnies and eggs for the stepsiblings and their dad. Then she just plainly asked me "did you want me to send some up for you?" and when I said no thank you she said "I understand, that's why I thought I'd check instead of assuming. I didn't want you to feel left out, but I'm proud of you for sticking to your plan." Aww, thanks mommy. Instead she's sending me a dozen eggs with my sister when she comes home later today, and a blender!!! Happy Easter to me, smoothies, here I come.

Neon - I just teared up reading that!! How absolutely fabulous of your mother!!! She let you have the power of saying no. And being 100% supportive of it!! That is awesome!!! I hope my mom and I can relate that way once she is back in Ohio for the summer.

Sounds like April is off to a great start for everyone!!!

PinkFlamingo - glad you are here. It's okay to hide sometimes. And since when does the church make the person? Whether or not she is a theology student? We're here for you!

Cyn - sounds like progress!! Prayers for Justin. I hope it resolves soon!

Sharon, Stella, babble - Awesome!!!

I hadn't thought about the plain water on the wound issue. I do better drinking flavors anyway so I have been doing the Crystal Light. It's nice because my family enjoys it, too. I think I may finally have my husband off of Kool-Aid and onto Crystal Light.

Was just talking to my husband today about how, now that we are finally on the other side of surgery, we need to start planning meals that will have a good source of protein for me. It gets interesting because my son and husband love fish, as I do. My daughter can barely stand the smell. So, whenever we have fish, we have to have something else for her. Although, in this day and age, it is a lot easier to throw an extra chicken patty or breast on the grill or in the oven. It's the extras that the kids will want (and need) that I will not have room for. It will be a fairly long learning curve. But, I'm so ready for it!!!

Right now I am rather frustrated because my newest nephew (5 months) is over and I can't hold him! I can't lift him and even holding him will hurt with my drain and incisions. He's so cute!!! But, I'm watching him watch my kids, which is fun!!!

Today is a beautiful spring day. 73 and sunshine. Bright green grass. Lots of fresh buds. I have received some beautiful plants and flowers for my surgery. I am surrounded by beauty and goodness!!!

OH TOM how I hate thee... let me count the ways!

Bloating
Pain
Cramping
Swollen fingers
Swollen toes
Salty and Sweet cravings
Mean hateful thoughts
Messiness
Wardrobe malfunctions (day and night)
Running out of places to hide bodies
Lost days spent with head under covers with heating pad

The list goes on and on!!!!

Sigh,
Ratkity

Well Hello my Peeps!

Was just ranting in last msg. I should be happy that I have a predictible TOM (for now.. mean0pause is around the corner). When I was 350+, TOM was never predictible.

It's a beautiful Sunday out today. I did get one thing accomplished, I repotted my pepper plants to one of those topsy turvy hangers and hung them on a shepard's hook type plant holder. Some seedlings didn't make it, alas, but most did. Last night, I sent some tomato and pepper plants over to my neighbor. She is so sweet. I grew all of these from a packet of seeds and was really impressed that I got easily 90% germination.

BikerChick never made it out on the bike, but TOM ruined it for her. Another rant for my list! Ruining a perfect BikerChick day!

Basket, sounds like you are doing fabbo! I have a crustless mini-quich recipe that's good protein and you make it in a muffin tin, so the portions are nice and small. It's NOT low fat, so you might not be interested, but it is low carb. Let me know if you want it. I make little quiches and take one to work for lunch.

All the people who do Atkins have posted wonderful low carb recipes on the web and I've been doing research. My goal is to find something yummy that is also low sodium for family get-togethers (Mom and Dad are both low salt).

Something to eat that is really good the whole family might like is burrito night. You don't have to partake in the tortilla wraps, but warm up refried beans (good protein), add a dollop of sour cream and some wholly guacamole (in grocery store, yummy stuff) then a tiny bit of salsa... YUM!! Oh, melt a little cheese on the refried beans when you are ready for cheese. All of that will fill your little tummy perfectly.

I also lived off ricotta and cottage cheese early on, as well as Fage Greek yogurt.

Neon, what a nice thing for your Mom to say. My poor Mom tries hard to say the right things. Sometimes they come out wrong. It's all said with love, though. How can I get mad at BikerMa? BTW, BikerMa had her eyelids lifted cuz they were making her lashes scrape her eyes. She says she looks like Dad beat her up and is calling herself PandaMum. I sent her some pretty flowers and it made her feel better.

Sharon, you are having a time of it, aren't you? Still, you are down, yay!! Hang in there.

Cuter, I'm glad you had a great time with hubby, w00t!

Thin, you are doing so well!!!

Pink, I know it's hard to do much when you are in a funk, but try to just sit outside in the sun for a few minutes. I swear, it will help. Your body will put out it's little solar panels and soak it up. No, standing by a window won't help.

Cyn, prayers sent for the kiddo. Let us know what the verdict is.

Hugs to babble, Heatherb and ProfHeather, Catherine, Torti, Realist, Battle and all the lurkers and peeps!!

Luv,
Ratkity

PS the Real Ratkity is remaining stable these days. Her kidneys are failing, but she's in good spirits and eating and drinking and not losing weight.