February 2, 2006

Hello, all. Just wanted to post an update on a couple of things. First of all, I contacted the insurance company this morning, and DH, Brian's case is officially under review. Shouldn't be much longer now before he gets his approval...I am not worried about him being approved...he has type ll diabetes, high blood pressure, hypertension, as well as other co-morbidities. It is just a matter of formality with him now. I now have an angel. Her name is Angela Russell and she is the one who turned me on to this site. Thanks Ange, love ya girl! Please pray for her step-son, James. He is 12 and is having some potentially dangerous medical problems. Also, my mom is having outpatient surgery Monday on her ankle. Please pray for a fast recovery. GOD is the great physician and he is STILL in the healing business! Good luck to everyone reading this no matter where you are on your journey. Future loser, Donna
(2Kings 20:5)





February 7, 2006

I am jumping for joy right now! Hubby also got approved!! Thank you again God! I just called the insurance company and his letter is going out today. He doesn't know it yet, because he is away from his desk. Hopefully, the worst of the waiting is now behind us. I will update again as soon as I know what the next step is. Now I am really pumped!! Good luck to you no matter where you are on your journey! Also, thank you Myra for sprucing up my profile. Very pretty!! Donna (2 Kings 20:5)





February 8, 2006

I HAVE A DATE!! It is March 2nd...of THIS year. I can hardly believe I got one so quick. Of course, this may have to be rescheduled due to the fact that I am not sure now that Dr. Torquati will do both surgeries on the same day! That upsets me a bit for the day is...My son, Josh and his wife Tammy found out today that the contract offer they put in on a new home has been approved, so they will officially be homeowners hopefully by the end of this month. Way to go kiddo's! I have so much to get done before my big day. I had no idea it would be this soon. Good luck to those still waiting. Donna (2 Kings 20:5)





February 10, 2006

I just got off the phone with Dr. T's nurse and she says he absolutely will NOT do the surgeries on the same day. At first I thought bummer...but I am now thinking that is GOD'S way of saying we don't need to have them on the same day. I must admit I am feeling a little bit guilty about mine being first. I guess the main thing is that we both will be having it. Besides, in general, men lose weight quicker than women, so, don't worry Brian, you will catch up to me in no time. I have a consultation scheduled for Feb. 14th @ 9 a.m. Then @ 9:30. I do all of my pre-admit stuff. I am so excited, I can hardly contain myself. I only hope that DH doesn't see what I go through and then back out. Please pray for both of us but especially Brian. He has never spent a night in a hospital or been put to sleep. He has seen a documentary on people "waking up" during surgery, and is a little apprehensive about the whole thing. ***THE FOLLOWING IS A SPECIAL NOTE FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. YOU MAY THINK THIS MORBID, AND YOU MAY NOT WANT TO READ IT. IF NOT, SKIP DOWN TO WHERE THE CAPS ARE OFF.*** DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, PLEASE DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME. INSTEAD, PUT ALL OF THAT ENERGY INTO PRAYING FOR ME. IF SOMETHING WERE TO GO TERRIBLY WRONG, THEN IT WAS IN GOD'S PLAN THAT MY TIME WAS UP. PLEASE REST ASSURED THAT I WILL BE IN HEAVEN WITH JESUS. I AM A WINNER EITHER WAY! I LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU VERY MUCH AND HOPE THAT I HAVE SHOWN THAT LOVE TO YOU. IF YOU DON'T KNOW JESUS, PLEASE SEARCH HIM OUT SO THAT WE WILL BE TOGETHER AGAIN. I don't forsee anything going wrong, but just in case it does, I just feel that the above statement needed to be put there. The countdown has begun. 20 more sleeps and a wake-up! Good luck to everyone awaiting approval. Donna (2 Kings 20:5)





February 15, 2006

Hello to all of my OH buddies! We finally got huubby's approval letter in the mail on Monday. We are now waiting to see when his big day is. I met with Dr. T, the surgeon, yesterday, am am at peace with him doing the surgery. I asked him if he was a praying man, a Christian, and he informed me that he is a praying man, attends mass every Saturday, and relies on faith. Whew, what a relief to know your surgeon is a PRAYING surgeon. I also had bloodwork, a urinalysis, and an EKG done. Now I just have 2 nutritionist appts. to get behind me and then the big day will be here before I know it. Only 15 sleeps and a wake-up! Oh my gosh...I haven't even started packing yet! LOL! Dr. T was impressed with how much I knew about the surgery and was proud that I had done my research. A lot of that information came right from this site. Thank ye! His nurse Maureen told me she knew I was going to be a "fun" patient. She even told me today that she wanted me to keep her informed on our progress...she really likes me. ((big grin)). Hubby went with me so he doesn't have to see the surgeon when he goes for his consultation, he will just have to be weighed in. I have put in a call to find out when his date is, and am still waiting for a return call. I am also trying to get his nutririonist appts. for the same day as mine so we don't have to make so many trips to Nashville, about 45 minutes away. Many thanks to Myra, who placed my first ticker for me. I just couldn't get it to pop up! Myra, you're the bomb! DH and I had Valentine's dinner at Ruby Tuesday's and I ate my "Last Supper" complete with a huge piece of cake, called a Blondie. For those of you who don't know what that is...it is a HUGE chocolate chip cookie in the form of a cake. They give you this gigantic piece topped with ice cream and caramel sauce. Very good! Now I have to try and lose 5-10 more pounds by surgery day. No problem, I will just start my liquid diet today, two weeks before surgery. LOL A special thanks to you Brian, for escorting me around Vanderbilt yesterday. I would've been so lost without you! I am so looking forward to a healthier life with you! Good luck to those still awaiting approval. Donna (2 Kings 20:5)*****LATER SAME DAY***** Brian has a date! His surgery is scheduled for March 23rd @ 7:30 a.m. YOU GO BOY!!





February 21, 2006

Hello, all. Tomorrow is my first meeting with the nutritionist. Brian's is also tomorrow, same place, same time. I can hardly wait to see exactly what I can have to eat and when. I want to make sure everything I need will be there when I get home. And of course, I will have to share with Brian. That's ok...we've shared lots of things over the years. Please pray for him as he seeks direction on pastoring a church. He knows he has this calling on his life, and is praying for the door to open. Pray for me also that when that time comes that I will be the pastor's wife that God would have me be. I have been in a cleaning frenzy the last few days. Doing things I haven't done in months, just trying to make sure the house is in order so Brian can devote all his time to taking care of me. LOL. Brian, I know you are reading this and I want to thank you up front for taking such good care of me, as I know you will. I draw so much energy in the fact that I know you are my # 1 cheerleader. What worries me is that I also know you will be my # 1 coach...HE HE HE!! I love you and thanks for all you do! You losers slide over and make room on that loser's bench. You got another team mate coming...9 sleeps and a wake-up! (2 Kings 20:5)





February 23, 2006

Hello to all. I went for my first nutritionist appt. yesterday and am now on a liquid diet until surgery day...7 sleeps and a wake-up! My "food" now consists of 8 ozs. of skim milk and a packet of carnation's instant breakfast mix (no sugar added) 6 times a day, about every 3 hours. That along with LOTS OF WATER seems to be doing the trick. I had one more "last meal" last night and probably could've had anything I wanted, and you'll never guess what I chose??? McDonald's! I wanted a double quarter pounder meal, go large, and an apple pie, and that's exactly what I had! Still not nervous at this point, just really excited!! I need to go ahead and pack a hospital bag so I won't forget anything. My DH has taken off of work and will be with me, so I can keep him busy retrieving things from the bag and then returning them! Good luck to all those awaiting approval. Donna (2 Kings 20:5)





February 27, 2006

Hello. Just wanted to let everybody know that I am doing okay with my liquid diet. I am on day 5 and other than a bad headache and feeling a little weak, I am doing fine. I have lost 8 1/2 pounds since Thursday on the liquid diet. I am anxious to see if the nutritionist' scale says the same. I go back for my last pre-op visit today. I still am not the least bit nervous. I think it is because I have God's peace and he is holding me high above the anxiety level. Thursday may be a different story, so keep those prayers coming. I also want to take this time to thank everyone that has signed my surgery support page. I plan on printing it out and taking it with me to the hospital. This will probably be my last post until after the surgery so take care and polish my seat on the loser's bench. I'll be there in three sleeps and a wake-up! Good luck to all other March "re-births" and to those still waiting. Happy birthday Brian (tomorrow), I love you, and will try to make this as easy as possible on you! Hugs, Donna (2 Kings 20:5)