Today is my fifth day eating a salad here in the restaurant for lunch instead of going out. Woohoo! I looked back at November and I went out way too often... It took a toll on the weight and the pocketbook... So, back to my grilled chicken salad with balsamic vinaigrette spray dressing! Yay me! Of course, the scale now needs to cooperate with me and reward me for five OP days instead of going up like it did today...

Hi everyone, I've missed you all. Sorry I've been gone so long. My health has been lousy lately. I've been hospitalized multiple times and am now moved to the top of the liver transplant list. It all became noticeable about mid October when I became severely jaundiced. Then came problems with my kidneys not functioning like they should. Anyway, I'm home for now and waiting for a call to return for my new liver.

It's weird because I feel so guilty for not having done any Christmas shopping at all. Tonite Lacy is going to help me do some on-line shopping.

My son is still at an Army base in the US right now and is expected to leave to Afghanistan around Jan. 14th. We are very much hoping that I have my liver transplant before he is deployed.

As far as my weight, it hasn't been my major concern right now. With the massive steroids I am taking right now, I'm sure I'll be back here trying to lose weight again once my health is restored.

Anyway, just wanted to let everyone know that I miss them and forgive me if I'm not able to post very often.

Lots of activity here!

Allison, I've got the same problem with my sz. 10 jeans. It's weird because my weight is the same, but something has changed because I was having to lie down on the bed and zip. Then the jeans would feel really uncomfortable around the crotch. Sadly, I went to the thrift store and bought more jeans in a sz. 12.

Amanda, glad the puppy is doing better. Maybe it's just a case of a really smart puppy!

Watched the Oregon/Oregon State game last night--what a great game! And I'm still just so thrilled that an Oregon team will be in the Rose Bowl. Take that, USC!

So I exercised five days this week--I'm proud of myself. I've been in quite a bit of pain lately so I don't want to get up and go to the gym, but I've done it anyway. Today I did a 1/2 hour Zumba class. I still love Zumba, but I realize that's what gave me bursitis in my knee, darn it. The instructor said there's a shoe that I could get that doesn't stick to the floor when you're pivoting and sliding, etc. Bet it's expensive, though, so maybe I'll just stick to the elliptical and the bike. Boring, but effective.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Lily, we posted at the same time. Glad to see you back, but I'm sorry you've been so ill. I hope the docs can find you a new liver soon. Can you get a partial liver transplant from a live donor?

Sorry to double post but wanted you all to know that Shelbey was sworn in yesterday for the Navy. (She finally met her weight requirement). She leaves to boot camp on July 10th.

Lacy is filling out college applications and plans to go to college in the fall.

Sheila, I don't really understand why but my hepatology team says I will need a complete liver instead of a partial one. It has to do with my specific disease process where the vessels in my liver have all turned hard.

Lily,
So good to hear from you but not good that you have been so ill.
My thoughts and prayers are with you. I hope that a new liver will found extremely quickly.

My thoughts and prayers are also with Shelbey and your son (Shane?) and also Lacy too.

I hope that you will be able to get some online shopping done. Everyone will more than understand if you can't. I'm sure you know that but we still want to do everything! It's just the mom (and/or grandma/sister/wife/daughter) in us!

Michele

Lily - I'm so sorry to hear about your illness, and am thinking of you and your family. I hope that the transplant comes through soon, and that it happens before Shane is deployed. Will they let him come home for the surgery if he is already gone? to all of you guys.

Lily, Thank you for posting, I have been thinking about you and hoping you were all right. Sorry to hear about your ill health. I hope things will work out like you want them too with the timing of the liver transplant.

You must be thrilled about how well Shane, Shelby and Lacey are doing!

Sending some good vibes your way :
take care,
rabbit

Lily best of luck to you in your quest for a transplant and prayers that the kids do well in the service and return safely. Take care and please do not feel bad that you can't post like you used to. We all look forward to good news from you in the near future.

Amanda, our jobs are pretty close! I do software development for a medical device company (Beckman Coulter).

Sheila, I took a Zumba class once and it totally hurt my knee. They do some weird moves!

Lily, it's so good to hear from you! Sorry to hear your health has been poor. I hope they find you a new liver ASAP. You and your family will be in my thoughts.

Whew, the hectivity continues (if that's not a word it should be )

Lily - so good to hear from you, and sorry to hear that you liver problems have "gone south" I hope that you are able to have a transplant soon. And know that we continue to pray for you and your safe recovery! (So you can come back and play with us, of course ) And also pray for safe travels for Shane and Shelby, and wow, college for Lacy, where does the time go???

Funny you should mention zumba. My gym is adding it, but on a weekday morning! I talked to the owner and she says the teacher doesn't want to teach at nights or weekends - grrrrr.

I've had this open for awhile, better just admit that I'm too busy right now and post it.

Thanks everyone for the support.

I am very proud of our kids and think they are all doing extremely well right now. The girls have even went the extra mile in keeping our house clean while I'm too sick to do it.

I'm very happy that DH just got another huge promotion with pay raise cause we need it with the stack of medical bills we are facing. His job has been wonderful in allowing him to be at the hospital with me (while keeping his paychecks coming). We still figure that by the time my surgery is over that we will have depleted our 401K's.

Last Friday I got to see all 6 of my grandkids (#7 is on the way, due March 5th). I loved seeing them. My exposure to them has been very limited lately due to my illness and the kids having frequent coughs, colds and such. (I have to wear a mask and gloves around the kids due to my weak immune system).

Shannon, they will let Shane come home for my surgery if my doctors deem it an absolute emergency. Right now they believe it will be done while he is still in the US and it won't be a problem for him to be able to come and be with the family.

Hope you get the new liver ASAP Lily! I'm sure the best Christmas present your whole family could get would be to have you on the road to recovery with a new liver.

Dagmar

lilybelle! So glad to see you are posting--and so sorry you have been feeling so ill... I hope everything works out soon. Hang in there--I know you're a fighter!

Jay

LILY!! My prayers and hugs are with you!