It's been quite a while, but it's been crazy busy.  Not only am I starting my Junior year of college, my oldest has begun her Senior year of high school!! I am soooo overly excited and overjoyed for her.  The weight loss has slowed, but it's still going on.  I was supposed to see Dr. Kole on November 11, but thanks to my former PCP whom has never met me(he always pushed me off on his partners) decided because I hadn't been in the office for a while, he "needed" me to sit in his waiting room for 2 hours before he sees me, Then he'll hear what's going on in my life while he's walking back out of the room and peddle a few unnecessary pills on me. All for the glorious price of a $15 co-pay!!  My girls refused to see him, he insulted the Hubby the first time he ever met him and he sat in the waiting room for an hour and forty five minutes the first visit and two hours the second visit. He refuses to go back.  So now I've changed our PCP, I'm going to meet him the first of the year, let him know about Dr. Kole and get the ball rolling for part 2 of my weight loss journey. This will have to wait until summer now because with Senior year activities and my baby's Sweet Sixteen birthday party in April, when will I have the time to devote to me and my care? So I figure after our summer vacation, I can proceed. I'm down 139lbs, but I still have a looooong way to go!!  So much for all of that. I have a new venture in my life as well, I know, with everything going on in my life already, I have become a Pampered Chef Independent Kitchen Consultant.  I love every single aspect of it.  I've gone back to doing what I used to love. I can d this now because I can stand for long periods of time now, my back doesn't hurt, and my feet don't kill me when I'm cooking.  I found that a lot of my issues with my weight were the fact that I was eating what was readily available. So now I'm preparing everything, the whole family has gotten involved. They love what I do, they love the kitchen tools and seasonings.  I'm just glad they are on board with everything I'm doing.  I've decided after my daughter's graduation, I'm getting my second tattoo. On my back/ right shoulder and something incorporating both girls' names.  Well, gotta run, as usual, homework and sleep call.  Be well and I'll be back soon!!! Have a blessed, safe and joy filled Thanksgiving everyone!!!

My goodness, I feel terrible.  It's been quite sometime since I've dropped a note.  It's been super busy around here. School (myself and the kids), hubby injured himself at work, helping care for my grandmother, just life in general.  I've made it to the 100 pound down mark!! Actually I'm at 112 pounds lost!!! Yayyyyy!!! But, there hasn't been very much action since.  I saw Dr. Kole for my one year visit, we discussed a possible second surgery.  He wants to see me again in November to see if I am at a stall, he said this could happen with VSG patients, especially those of us that have large amounts of weight to lose.  We discussed my options, RNY, DS or Lapband.  I've discussed it with Hubby and I told him, if  Dr. Kole deems it necessary, I only want to go for the Lapband.  It'll be a overnight proceedure and it could be just the re-kickstart I may need.  i'm still exercising regularly, sticking to my eating plan, have a treat every blue moon (honestly- no craving for anything really bad).  I'm going to do a liquid diet for about one week (you know the one we did just before the surgery), Dr. Kole said it could get things moving again and I may be able to avoid the second surgery.  We'll see, and I'm praying he's right.  If I do have the second surgery, only those that live in my house, my best friend and my God son will know.  I don't want to go through the drama- for what I am dubbing, "Maintenance Surgery!"  I'm not ready to argue that my surgery failed, because in all honesty, it didn't fail- I've lost 112 pounds and without the Sleeve, I wouldn't have been able to do it.  I wouldn't be living the life that I am living right now.  I've developed a confidence in myself, I love myself, to be honest- I'm having a blast!! I'm going places, baseball, hockey, basketball and I will be going to my first football game in about 33 years!!! I've been to plays and concerts, I've walked around the mall without having to stop to catch my breath.  I'm working out and I love it, even when I get an awful cramp in my calf from pushing myself a bit too hard!!!  I can walk my dog for a mile and I enjoy it.  My neighbors have noticed not only the weight loss, but my attitude, I actually stay outside and chat with them.  My family has to get me to squeeze them into my "social calendar!"  I was trying to decide the gift I was going to give myself for losing my first 100 pounds.  After talking with my best friends- they reminded me of something that I've always wanted and this would be the perfect time to get it:  A TATTOO!!!!  So I then had to decide what that tattoo would be.  I've decided on a butterfly.  Because I  have shattered the cocoon that once held me captive and separate from the world. I talked it over with the Hubby, he's all for it, he's told me he's in this with me and anything I do that keeps me or helps me get healthy and whatever I do that makes me happy that isn't illegal or hurt anyone (we both laughed)- he's all for it! He's told me he loves the fact that he sees me smile all the time, he said he missed my smile- I love him soooo much.  My kids love helping me pick out new clothes.  I've actually been able to shop in stores, I haven't done that in over 10 years!!!  I also have sent a thank you to my GYN (sorry fellas- but it is what it is)!!  She's been the other half of me getting my life back.  I've purchased my first pair of white capris, wore a pair of off white pants, and I'm buying pale pink capris!!!  i've not been able to wear light color pants, skirts, dresses, capris- nothing below the waist could be light colored- just in case I had an "accident!"  This year has been wonderful.  I LOVE MY LIFE!!! And I'm thanking God everyday for every single moment.  I'll keep you all posted on what happens.  You all are always in my prayers, please keep me in yours!

Have a great summer & be blessed

Well, December along with 2009 has come and gone.  I didn't make my goal of 100 pounds off, but I'm ok with it.  I have lost 85 pounds and I'm feeling great!! I had to have outpatient surgery and was just released to go back to exercising this week.  I think that slowed my weight loss a bit, but I'm ok with it- I had to have this done.  Well, December started out pretty nice, we were all in the holiday spirit and waiting for Santa to visit all the little people in our family.  I got an early gift from hubby, he took me to see Michael McDonald on December 20!!! I have been wanting to see him for years and hubby has made my dream come true!! I love you "Big Daddy- you're the best!!"  He also gave me a jersey of my favorite football team- the Pittsburgh Steelers- and it's my favorite player(even though he's retired now- Jerome "The Bus" Bettis).  Well, after that night, our week went down hill!!
We received a phone call at 1:50am Tuesday morning(December 22), my father in law passed away in the night, unexpectedly!!  He had been ill for some time, but we never imagined God would call him home, especially at Christmas time, but it is His will, not ours.  A couple of the younger grandchildren wanted to "cancel" Christmas, because Grandpa wasn't here to celebrate with us.  We all had to let them know that Grandpa didn't want us to stop celebrating because he was no longer physically here with us, in fact in a few of his last conversations, he wanted to be sure all the grands had their gifts from him.  They then understood how important this Christmas would be for our family.  I still find myself tearing up from time to time when I think about him.  His memorial is Saturday January 9, if any of you that read this could whisper a prayer for our family, we would surely appreciate it!!  Christmas was very different, but we shared stories and pictures, laughter and tears.  Hubby took it pretty hard(as expected- they were very close- not to mention hubby looks exactly like him) because after the mention of cremation, he thought he wouldn't get to see him and say goodbye, but my wonderful mother in law made arrangements so that we the immediate family could have a private viewing and farewell.  It was sad, but touching as we all held each other and shared our "Grandpa tales!!"  I'm going to miss his deep baritone voice, his hearty chuckle and his infectious smile and most of all, his "sick and twisted" sense of humor!! I love you Dad and I miss you terribly!!!
With that I will ask that each of you hug your kids/grandkids a bit tighter and that kiss you give your significant other- let it linger just a bit longer and always smile at those you meet while you're on your way about your day!!!! 
Many hugs and lots of love!!
Happy New Year Everyone

Can you "freakin" believe it?!!! I finally, I repeat, FINALLY BROKE THROUGH THE 70 LB MARK!!! And baby I did it big time, I am down 77 pounds as of this past Tuesday!!!  I screamed when that scale lit up those digits. I have 23 pounds to go before I hit 100 pounds. My best friend and I have stepped up our workouts a bit.  I feel so much better when I work out. I had to miss a week because I had a really bad  cold and I was coughing so badly, I thought I was coming down with the infamous bronchitis as I always do.  But nope, just hit the NyQuil at night and his brother DayQuil during the day, sucked on a few cough drops and some hot tea, I managed to beat it. I still have a little tickle every now and again, but nothing I can't live with and use the occasional cough drop for.  I bought myself a pair of black leather riding boots. Ok, sounds great right? Well, not exactly.  I haven't worn riding boots since my Senior year of high school.  One, I couldn't afford a new pair back then as a nursing student.  Once I could, I couldn't get my "big ol" fat calves in a pair.  Well, I was determined to that after surgery I was getting a pair.  Well, last week I was shopping with my best friend and hubby was able to "float" me a few extra dollars in my budget.  These boots started begging me to rescue() them from the store because it's dark there at night and they're afraid of the dark- "this is my story and I'm sticking with it.  So I tried them on, my foot fit perfectly, but they wouldn't zip all the way u my calf.  I just sat there and my best friend said "buy them!"  She told me right there in front of everyone- "you're working your butt off, you love those boots, the love you and they are on sale for $90, if you put them on your dresser and see them everyday, that is going to be incentive for you to push through!" Well, I bought the boots, they're sitting on my dresser waiting for me.  Hubby bought me a Pittsburgh Steelers Jerome Bettis jersey and I'm thinking about buying some black leggings and a black or gold turtleneck and hopefully I will be able to wear this come Christmas day!!! Hubby's supposed to wear his Detroit Lions jersey for Christmas.  Ok, yeah I'm from Detroit, I absolutely adore the Redwings, Tigers and Pistons.  With that said, since I've been a little girl, I've always loved the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Franco Harris was my favorite football player (I did enjoy the view of other players on other teams-Howie Long and those Oakland Raiders, Joe Montana, Steve Young, etc- but I've been very loyal to the Steelers) until Jerome Bettis came along.  Let alone was he a great team player, not hard on the eyes, but he's also from Detroit!!! Any who, enough about my obsession with football(I could go on for months about football).  I will check in next month as it's getting really busy around here as it is with most of you- holday season is upon us.  My cookie and kitchen will be busy in the coming weeks.  I have lots of gifts to make.  This year, I don't even have a craving for any of it, which is good.  The only thing I'm looking forward to is my mother in law's shortbread cookies- and I can only eat maybe 2 or 3 pieces- she cuts them into tiny squares but it's a buttery cookie- I don't have a gall bladder so I'm very careful about fat intake.  But I will have a couple of pieces and that'll suit me just fine.  I have to make peppermint meringue cookies, black and white cookies, coconut macaroons, decorated sugar cookies and glass candy.  I package them assembly line style and give them as gifts to all the siblings, our mail carrier(she put in her request for the glass candy and meringue cookies-), friends and I do a big tray for the office at the girls' school- this year I only have to do one because they both go to the same school- yayyyy, and one for Hubby's Holiday Party at work..  Ok, I have babbled just too much today.  I'm feeling particularly talkative today, don't know why.  Well, back to the books- uggggh this algebra class- 3 weeks to go!!!  Going to the gym tonight with Angie- gotta move those 23 pounds.  Talk soon.....Be Blessed