9/23/08 ~ Hello everyone!  Well after being on the protein train for a week I weighed myself this morning and I dropped 5 lbs. thank God!  I have been staying steady at 235 lbs for last 3 months.  I think I will be doing riding the train this week as well.  This is all I have for now. Be blessed!

9/17/08 ~ Well it has been a whiel since my last update, so here goes.  Things have been hectic, first off I now have custody of my nephew, of whom was 3 days old when I got him and during that process, we have moved.  This was a big change for me since my baby will be 21 in Oct. talk about starting over!  But anyway, he's just adorable and he's fitting right in.  I'm still holding at 235 lbs. and trying to loose these last 30 lbs.  to make my goal.  Everyone is telling me that I don't need to loose anymore and that I look find at the weight where I am, but I'm not okay at where I'm at, but eventually I'll get there someday.  That's if for now.  God bless you all!

6/24/08 ~ Wow it has been a while since I've updated!  Well I'm now down to 235 lbs and still losing slowly.  I am now in a size 20 jeans and I can do a size 12/14 top and can fit into a size 16 dress.  I went to Ashley Stewarts the Saturday before Mother's day with my sister-n-law and bought a linen skirt set that they had on sale.  I figured I would try on the 18 skirt, because depending on how it's made determines if I can get into it or not.  Well low and behold the 18 slipped off straight to the floor...so I asked my sister-n-law to get me the next size and that was a 16 and to my suprise, that fell to the floor as well!  Can you say Oh Happy Day!!!! :)  I went to the next size....can you believe a 14 and I held that skirt up and said no way in hell that's going to fit me with my big hips and behind......but it did, I was smiling until my face hurt.  My sister-n-law told me to come out so she could see, and when I did, I got so many compliments of how good the outfit looking on me from the other ladies shopping, now that was a kodak moment!!  I got a total linen outfit jacket and shirt (burnt orange) in a size 14 and a linen shirt(white) in a size small for a total of $104!!! That was my treat to myself and well worth it!!!  Well you guys, that's enough for now.  So until next time, be blessed!!

1/28/08 ~ Hello everyone!  Well today I figured that I would weigh myself to see if what I have how much I have lost since riding on the protein train, so here goes......drummm rollllll please.....I have lost 5.5 lbs. and I am now down to 240 lbs!!!  Now I have 60 lbs more to go until I reach my goal weight of 180 lbs, but who knows, maybe I may want to go down a little more....we will see how I look at that weight.  So until next time, I pray that everyone be safe & blessed in Jesus name!

12/13/07 ~ It has been a while since I've updated so here goes... I weighed myself yesterday and I an now down to 245.5 that's -127 lbs praise God!!!!  I am wearing sz 22 in pants and can fit in to some 20's although kind of snug (due to the hips & tighs), but I'm getting there and wearing sz L in tops.  This journey has and will continue to be a blast and to hear all the compliments on how good I look.  Well I'm going to close here so you all be blessed until my next time.

9/6/07 ~ Hello OH Family, not much to report this morning except that I weighed myself and I am now down to 251.5 that's 121 pounds gone forever!!!!! That's all that I have to report today, you all be blessed.

7/25/07 ~ Well OH family, I went to my appt. and I was down to 260, but I weighed myself on Tuesday (7/24) and I'm down to 258, only 2 lbs since last month, well I guess the slow down is here.  During my visit, Dr. Harrington said that everything was looking good.  He suggested that I add in some weights to my routine to get toned, which I knew that I would need to do, so I talked to my cousin who's into body building and he has agreed to help me.  I also asked Dr. Harrington what does he see as my goal and he said that I could lose another 80 lbs.  I said to myself that's good, that would put me at 180 and under 200 lbs. and can't wait until I get there.  Over the weekend I went for a walk and waked 5 miles and felt good afterwards.  I'm trying to do this every weekend. Well that's all the update I have for now so until next time.  God Bless!    Oh yeah, I'm going to be a grandmother, my oldest daughter whom said that she would never have children....she found out never say never.

6/20/07 ~ Today I weighed myself and I'm down to 263, but will give an official count when I go to see Dr. Harrington on Monday.  I had weighed myself just last week and I was still at a stall of 265 and you can imagne my surprise when I stepped on the scale. I Thank God that the weight is starting to move again.  Since my last visit with the dr "unoffically" I have lost a total of 16.5 lbs.  I haven't seen Dr. Harrington since my 2nd post op appt, because I have been his assoicate and now he's not there, so it's back to Harrington, I can't wait to see what he has to say.  I have to remember to let him know that I've been having really back back & neck pain since the weight loss and if he has an suggestions as to what can be done, if anything.  I pray that someday that I can get the money to have a breast lift/reduction, I think that's what some of the problems stem from.  Well I'm going to close here and fill you all in after my drs appt, so until then God bless.

4/8/07 ~ Hummm, tomorrow would have been exactly a month since my last post.  Well OH family here is an update on me.  I and down to 267.5 lbs and inches melting and melting.  I go to my PCP tomorrow and I'll see what the weight has done since my last visit to her.  Well, I went to the store last week to find an outfit for church, so I picked up one skirts, but in two different sizes (22/24 & 18/20).....well low and behold, I tried on the 22/24 and it was too big in the waist, so I tried on the 18/20 and IT FIT!!!!! Praise God!!!!!  So now I'm a size 18/20 in skirts and 18/20 in tops.  Now for the pants, I went from a size 26 and now in a size 24, OH WHAT A FEELING!!!  I think that I could be in a smaller size, if my thighs and hips would play catch up, but all in due time.  Yesterday I cleaned out my closet and gave my mother all of the clothes that I couldn't fit and would you believe that it filled up a trash bag, now I really need to do some shopping. :)  Well I'm going to close here until the next time, so God bless you all!

3/9/07 ~  Wow, it's been awhile since I've updated!!  I went to my pcp on Monday and I'm still having blood pressure problems, so she increased one of my meds to see if that would work.  It's so fustrating, because it seems that my bp can't make up it's mine what it wants to do, but all in due time.  Yesterday (3/8),  I had my 8 month appt with Dr. Fox and so far I've lost 93 lbs that's gone forever.....All Praises to God for giving me the second chance.  Everything is going well, my last blood work was very good except that my iron was a little low, but I've been taking Iron pills for that.  I went to New York last Saturday to see Color Purple and it was great.  Before the show started, we walked and walked and walked and I didn't mine it at all, it felt good not getting tired from just walking. Well family, I'm going to close here, so until the next time, God bless you all, In Jesus Name.

1/3/07 ~ Today I got on the scale because I was curious as to see how much I have lost since seeing my PCP on 12/8.  Well I have lost an additional 6.5 lbs, now I'm down to 289.5...yeh!!!!  Also over the weekend my mother gave me a jean outfit (pants and jacket) in a size 26 and they fit...thank you JESUS!!!!  I feel so good and I owe it all to my Savior Jesus the Christ for giving me the chance and I can't thank Him enough. 

12/27/06 ~ It has been a while since I've updated, so here goes.  I went to my PCP on 12/8 and I'm was down to 296, that was a lost of 16 lbs. since my last visit with her.  yahhhhhh!  But I'm still having issues with my blood pressure, it seems to not want to get under control.  I know after my surgery and every time that they checked my bp it was normal and I didn't have to take anything.  I thought once you start losing the weight that the bp would start coming down....who knows maybe the more that I lose it will start to get under control, I pray that it does.  I will finally get to see Dr. Harrington on Valentine's day, this will be the first time that I've seen him since I had surgery, I've always seen Dr. Fox.  It will be nice to see Dr. Harrington and get his reactions to my progress.  I'm going to close here and I will update once I go to my appt. in February, so until then I pray that you all have a blessed New Year!!  God Bless.

11/21/06 ~ Well I just converted to the new profile and really don't feel like retyping everything right now, so eventually I will add everything.  I'm really going to have to spruce up my page a little, it's looking so plain.

 10/13/06 ~ Well OH Family, I went to the doctors and drum roll please.......I've lost a total of 60 lbs in 3 months.  I was told by Dr. Fox that I was doing an excellent job and to keep up the good work.  I feel great and everything is going well.  I got my walking in this morning and my girlfriend and I are going to the gym to workout for an hour.  Well until next time, peace and blessings to you all.

10/6/06 ~ What's up OH Family!  I know that it has been a while since I've updated and my apologies to you all.  Well, where should I begin?  My clothes have just gotten way to big for me now, so I've been doing a little shopping here and there.  I'm still in sizes 22/24, but that's okay because I continue to loose inches.  I really don't know how much wight I've lost because I don't do the scales at all.  My next doctors visit is on the Oct. 11th, even though it's 2 days shy of 3 months, but I'm anxious to know what I've lost since the last visit.  It's been real nice to hear people say how well I'm doing and how I look so much different.  My best friend and I went to the gym and worked out for an hour and afterwards, I felt really great.....who would of thought that I would be a a gym working out......not I, but oh what a feeling.  Oh yeah the part that I forgot to mention is that I bought a workout jogging set and wore that, mined you that I have not had on a pair of any type of pants since high school and that's been over 20 years.  The compliments that I have gotten just tickled me to no end.  Well, I'm going to close here and until next time, peace and blessings to you all.

9/1/06 ~ Well, my appointment was rescheduled for 8/29 because Dr. Harrington had a family medical emergency.  I met with one of his associates (Dr. Fox) and he was a very nice guy, down to earth and I felt very comfortable talking with him.  He told me to keep up the good work and that he would see me in 6 weeks for my follow up.  I'm happy to say that I'm 322 lbs today, that's down -45 lbs since surgery!!!!!  Thank you JESUS!!!!!  It feels really great to see those numbers going down, down, down......makes me want to jump and click my heels......maybe not right now.....lol, but down the line......yesssss sirrrr who knows.  God bless you all.

8/19/06 ~ Wow...it has been a while since I've updated, so here goes.  Just wanted to share my WOW moment with everyone.  Wednesday morning (8/16), while getting ready for work I pulled out a dress (size 22) that had been in my closet for about 2 yrs. since my sister had given it to me.  Even though it didn't fit, I really liked the dress so it was put back in the back of my "One Day It Will Fit" section.  So I looked at the dress and said this thing isn't going to fit, but decided to try it on anyway....well low and behold IT FIT.....I was too through....THANK YOU JESUS!!!!!  I stared at myself in the mirror for 30 minutes....making me late for work, but I just couldn't believe it.  I hadn't been in a size 22 for years and still couldn't believe it, since the last outfits I bouth were 5x's.  I can't wait to see how much I have lost when I go to my appoint next Friday (8/25) for my 4 wk check up.  I will let you all know the results of that visit, so until then may God continue to bless each and everyone of you on your journey. Peace!

7/29/06 ~ Good Morning OH Family!  Well I went to the drs yesterday and I have lost a total of 28.5 lbs!!  The numbers on the scale kept going down and down and I was like OMG I can't believe it....OH HAPPY DAY!!!  Dr. Harrington said to keep up the good work and that my incisions have healed nicely and that he would like to see me back in 4 wks and that I can advance to soft foods, thank God, because I was getting tired of jello, pudding and popsicles.  

7/24/06 ~ Well hello everyone.  It's has now been 1 week and 4 days and I feel great.  I have so much engery now and I'm back to what I liked doing and that's walking without getting tired and out of breath.  My incisions have been itching like crazy, so I know that they are healing very well.  I have been trying to gewt in my protein, but it's hard but I'm doing my best.  Before going into surgery they weighed me and I had lost another 3 lbs, to my surprise so that bought me down to 364 lbs before surgery with a total weight loss of 10 lbs....go figure when I don't try to loose the weight it comes off.  I can tell that I have lost some inches and weight, but don't know how much I have lost because I want to wait until I see Dr. Harrington on Friday for my 2 wk check up.  I can't wait until he steps me up to soft foods because I'm getting tired of the broth, jello and pudding, although I don't min the sf popsicles though.  I will keep you all posted once I come back from my appt on Friday with the total loss so until then, God bless you all!!

7/15/06 ~ Hello OH Family, I cam home yesterday and I'm sorry that I didn't update you all, but all I wanted to do was sleep.  My surgery went as planned, no complications, but they did have to take out my gallbladder because it was scared badly from previous surgeries.  After getting into the recovery room, they had to put me on a heart monitor as a precautionary measure because I was having irregular heart beats.  The cardiologist said that everything looked good, and that some people get this after surgery, but just to be on the safe side they would monitor me overnight.  I wasn't scared, but only could say....Jesus this is in your hands and only you change this and with my Pastor's prayers everything worked out for the good.  While in recovery I told my nurse that I have nevered peed so much in 5 minutes and I have done today.  It seems like everytime I turn around I had to go.  All is well and I'm feeling alot better than the day before.  I've been walking around the neighborhood and have been drinking my water and getting in my protein. I'm going to end here and I will catch you all later.  I want to thank all of you that sent your prayers and blessing.  God Bless you all.

7/10/06 ~ Wow... 3 MORE DAYS LEFT!!!  I'm still not nervous all all and can't wait until this day finally arrives.  I know that everything is going to be alright, because I have a Heavenly Father.....JESUS CHIRST that will take care of me and see me through every step of the way, In Jesus Name.  So until next time, God bless you all.

7/7/06 ~ Yesterday I arrived at Holy Cross at 5L30 am to get the IVC filter, although I didn't have to be there until 6:40, but I figured if I got there early I could get it over and done with and back home by noon.  Well I didn't leave until 1:30 because that's what te doctor put in my paperwork, so that the nurse could monitor me to make sure everything was okay.  It wasn't as bad as I though it would be.....I was awoke for the whole thing and it took about an hour.  They gave me some dedicine in my IV to relax me and then the doctor said that he was ready to numb my neck and from there I didn't feel any pain and didn't have to use any pain meds.  Now trying to to get to sleep last night was another story in itself....they put the filter in on my right side of my neck and of course, I sleep on my right side so that was a no no, but I made it work some kind of way by sleeping between my left side and my back.  My neck is still a little sore today but not as bad as yesterday.  Now that this is over I have only 6 more day until my NEW BIRTHDAY....WOOOOO HOOOO and I can't wait!!!!  I'm still not nervous, just excited to finally be able to become a Loser.  Thank you Jesus you made it all possible.  

6/29/06 ~ I had my nut appt today.  She went over all the things that I would have to do as far as how to eat and the way I should eat and to really chew chew chew my foods, that took about 2 hours.  After that I had to get my blood drawn again, because the last one was going to be more than 30 days when I go for surgery.  I have my final consultation with Dr. Harrington on 7/5 and on 7/6 I have an appt to get the IVC filter put in.  My brother will be taking me God bless his soul.  Today makes 2 wks from today before I become a "Loser" Amen.

6/26/06 ~ Well I got my date this morning and I'm scheduled for July 13th and can't wait.  I really haven't been nervous, just excited and anxious to get it done and to get a seat on the losing bench. :-)  Until next time I send peace and blessing to you all.

6/23/06 ~ I'M APPROVED, I'M APPROVED.......THANK YOU JESUS, I'M APPROVED!!!!!  Today is my day off and I was sitting home watching tv and yet that still small voice "God" said to call my answering machine at work....mine you that I usually wait until I get back to work to check messages.  Well, low and behold it was Jackie from Dr. Harrington's office at 6 p.m. she left a message say these exact words..."Hi Ms. E, this is Jackie from Dr. Harrington's office and I have some good news for you, if you could give me or Alfreda a call on Monday, hope you have a wonderful weekend".  So when I heard that I was excited that I called my best friend Denise and told her and we both were so excited and happy and laughing up a storm on the phone.  I told Denise that I couldn't wait until Monday to find out for sure, so I called the percertification department and asked about the process of my paperwork and Louis said that it was APPROVED and said congrats to me.  Oh waht a wonderful feeling of first being told that I couldn't to now I CAN have the surgery.  I owe it all to my heavenly father, JESUS CHRIST with him all things are possible.  I still have one more thing to do and that's my nut appt. which is coming this Thursday (6/29) and I'm looking for surgery sometime in July.  I will keep you all informed, so until next time God bless you all.

6/20/06 ~ Dorothy called me back and told me that she talked to Alfreda and informed her that she was given the wrong information and that I was covered for this surgery as long as it was medically necessary.  She had Alfreda to fax my paperwork.  She said that it looks like I should be approved for this surgery and that now my paperwork is in the "PENDING STAGE" and has been passed along to the nurse for review.  THANK YOU JESUS, ONLY YOU CAN OPEN DOORS THAT HAVE BEEN SHUT!!!!!  AMEN.  I will let you all know the outcome so until then peace and love to you all.

6/19/06 ~ Well after getting over the inital shock of being denied, I'm sitting at work getting angry about the whole situation, but then you know how everyone always say that something told them to do this or that....Well my something was nobody but GOD telling me to call the insurance company again.  I picked up the phone and called and spoke to a lady by the name of Dorothy, who I believe was my angel.  I explained everything to Dorothy and she told me that this surgery was covered as long as it was medically necessary and that their was NOT any exculsions within my policy about weight loss surgery.  After hearing this all I could say was Thank you Jesus.  She also stated that something wasn't right and she asked for Dr. Harrington's number and the name of the person whom she should talk to about this and that she would get back to me the next day.  I thanked her again and got off the phone and said THANK YOU JESUS AGAIN!!!

6/16/06 ~ Well where should I begin.  I got a call at work today from Alfreda telling me that I was denied for the surgery.  Some lady that she was dealing with who was a telecommuter working from home, told here that the surgery was not covered under my insurance because of an exclusion.  Boy, how disappointing that was to hear that you can't have something that could eventually save your life.  I was turly disappointed and very angry.  Well I will see all later, I have to get myself together.

6/9/06 ~ My surgery was postponed until a later date...when I don't know....such disappointment. :(  My doctors were counting on Atena to clear me within 2 wks, but they have changed the way they do things now.  They have people who telecommute and it could be 2 wks before they get any paperwork.  Now I'm thinking that the drs. shouldn't have given me a date until they heard from the insurance company.  Here I was looking forward to June 15th for my new beginnings and now I may not be until July....Lord I pray sometime in July.  I had my last test done today too, which was a sonogram of my gallbladder and I have my nut appt on Monday.  I'm going to keep that just to get it out the way, so when they finally have my answer, all they hae to do is schedule a date (hopefully its within the 30 days) so I don't have to have to do the blood work again.  At least I will have everything out of the way. God bless you all.

6/1/06 ~ Yesterday I called to get an appointment to see the anethesiologist and the lady asked that if I could come in tomorrow which is today at 10 am......whew....things are moving fast.  I prayed for things to move fast and God has delivered, yet again....AMEN!!!  I got there today and had all my test done except for the ultrasound test for my gallbladder.  I will tell my PCP when I see her tomorrow that I need this done.  Onece that is done all I have to do is see the nutritionist, get my IVC filter put in and attend one seminar then my final consultation on June 7th, then I will be all set.  Praise God!  I will update more as I go along.  Until next time everyone be blessed in Jesus Name!

5/27/06 ~ Yesterday I met with Alfreda before Dr. Harrington came in.  Alfreda went over everything with me and before she left the exam room, she stated that se would get Jackie to give me a date.  Amen!!  Dr. Harrington is a very nice person and it seems that he really cares for his patients and in helping them achieve their goals of weight loss.  We went over the necessary things and he explained that I would be good for the surgery.  Before I left, I had a date of June 15th and I can hardly wait.  I thank God for this and I know that He will take care of me through this all in Jesus name.  So you all be blessed and see you on the losing side.

5/19/06 ~ Wow it's been a while since I've updated...well I had my pysch eval yesterday and everything went well.  The dr said that I have my head on stright and have really researched the ups and downs of what I'm about to part take in and that she doesn't see any problems with the decision I've made.  She wished me the best of luch.  I'm just so excieted to get this going, just think this time next Friday (5/26) I will finally have my consult with Dr. Harrington.  I will fill everyone in after that visit, so until then may God continue to bless each and everyone of you.

3/28/06 ~ My best friend and I had to our appt for 3/24, but had to reschedule because her mother was admitted to the hospital Thursday night.  So to be there for Denise, I went to the hospital on Friday to be a support to her.  I'm sad to say that her mother passed away that morning.