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Nearly two years, I had my apnea diagnosed as I was being worked up for surgery.  Here's a copy of a recent post I made to a thread asking about what to expect during a sleep study.  I'll be doing my first re-titration this week - but thankfully this time my pulmonologist is on-the-ball, and I'll be taking home an Auto-pap with a microchip rather than having to go into the lab.  I'll post my results when I get them, but my post pretty much gives the gist of things to this point:
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You would need this done no matter what type of surgery you were having.  It's primarily to rule out any difficulties they may have with respiratory concerns and anesthesia - and beyond that, it's to check if some of your other co-morbids may be related to the apnea itself.

Weight isn't the primary cause of apnea in "all" people, but it can exacerbate the symptoms.

I had undiagnosed apnea for more than a decade, it runs in my family.  High blood pressure, never feeling like I got enough sleep, having to get up at night to pee, snoring - those are all possible apnea-caused symptoms. 

I was diagnosed prior to surgery with severe obstructive apnea.  I was put on Bi-Pap with pressures of 22/15 (Bi-Pap simply means that the pressure changes for inhalation and exhalation).  I figured I would probably need a machine, but I had no clue my apnea was that severe.  Ventilators start at a pressure of 28 - that's how severe I was.  It was this realization that my apnea was THAT bad that tipped the scales, so to speak, in my decision to get surgery.  My pulmonologist was frank with me - getting the weight off will definitely improve the apnea, but it may not eliminate it 100%, because it could simply be the anatomy of my sinuses/throat causing it.

Flash forward 19 months post-op, 180+ lbs gone, I had my check-up with the pulmonologist last week and will be doing a home titration study this week because I've "graduated" from my original pressures.  The doc was pleasantly surprised at the progress I've made - he estimates I may be down to 18/12 - with the goal being a single pressure of 15 on C-pap (just inhalation).  We'll see when my study's complete. I still have about 60 lbs of weight loss to go to be 'maxed out'.  If I can reach a pressure of 15, we'll be out of the woods - I will graduate to a simple C-pap, or just a dental device at night.  Much easier to live with.

As far as the sleep study goes - it really isn't that big of a deal, you don't "feel" any different, the wires stay out of the way.  For me, it was having the glow of the machines and knowing there were cameras trained on me that kept me up.  I had to do a second study, only that time they gave me an Ambien so it was easier to fall asleep, and that's where I got my titration numbers.

My advice:
- Check with your referring doc ahead of time if you think you'll have trouble getting to sleep - they can at least have a standing order for Ambien or something similar available to you if you do find you're having trouble falling asleep - if you wait til the day of, it might not be possible
- Ask to try out the different masks prior to starting to study - there is a nose mask and a full face mask, they also have nasal 'pillows' - but those aren't typically used for titration studies, they're more for comfort over the long haul.  And don't be afraid to ask to switch if they fit you with one during the study and it's not comfortable.  Each person has a different comfort level.  They started me with a nose mask, but a full mask is what I needed, because my eventual pressures were so strong.

They will likely split the night into two parts - first few hours, they'll monitor you just as you normally sleep - no masks or anything.  If they find you're having obstructive episodes, they'll rouse you to fit you with a mask and then watch you from there.  Some people find they don't have any apnea, so they just sleep through the night and go home.

They may also take a quick blood gas (lab draw) prior to bedtime and then when you wake up - it's just to measure the C02 level in your blood - an indicator of how well your lungs are working when you're awake vs. when you're asleep. 

If you truly have apnea - this study can be a godsend, because the machine really DID help me sleep better.  I don't regret having gone through the studies at all, and I'm anxious to see my new numbers when I'm done with my study this week.

I don't officially reach it on the calendar for another week, but I had my check-up last week, and I was surprised at how "uneventful" it was.  And how interesting it was to be sitting in the same office with other folks who were showing up for their pre-op seminars, reflecting on how far I've come since I was (sort-of) in their shoes.

Parking at this particular office is tricky - it's part of a university and hospital campus which presents its own concerns, but the 35W bridge collapse closed of some of the access to it, so I took a bus, a train, then a bus to get there, and walked over to the clinic on a day when it was -15 wind chill.  And it didn't occur to me until I sat down in the chair after checking in that I wasn't doing some things:

1) Wasn't out of breath
2) My heart wasn't pounding
3) My feet weren't hurting
4) Wasn't reaching for my inhaler

What I WAS doing:
1) Crossing my legs
2) There was enough room for me and another person in my one bari-sized chair
3) thinking about the rest of my day vs. how I was going to plan my walking to make my connections to get back home
4) thanking my lucky stars that I had another good lab draw and no symptoms to report - my visit would be short

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Things that are "new" since my last check-up in July '07:

1.  No longer have high blood pressure - it actually runs a bit on the low side sometimes, it's been resolved for more than 6 months now, so I can cross it off my current medical hx
2.  I've shrunk - waist circumference and clothing sizes are a testament to that - I'm down 3 sizes since my last check-up
3.  Rate of weight loss has slowed a bit, but is still dropping consistently - per their charts I'm within 80 pounds of "chart" goal - about 65 to my own personal comfort goal (point at which I may need to start looking at plastics to make any further major strides)


Other things:  I put my exercise/training off for a few weeks due to a death in the family in January and February - managed to maintain on the scale during that time.  Didn't exercise, but knowing that, paid better attention to my food intake, and frankly, didn't have the desire to eat through the grief.  Last week I began my spring 5K training and realized that, even despite being "off" for 6 weeks - I've built up such a base that 4.0 m.p.h. on the treadmill is no longer a "jogging" pace - I can walk that pace now.  5.0. m.p.h. is now my "challenge" pace.  That was a bit of a shock - I was expecting to have to go back to square one there, but apparently making exercise a habit improves your tolerance, and the effect lasts a while.

The other thing that continued to happen during the hiatus is that I continued losing inches, even if I just maintained on the scale.  People who saw me before Christmas are seeing me again now for the first time in weeks and are telling me I look like I've been "doing something."  My clothes continued to get baggy.

I imagine it's the "adjustment" effect - the time off gave my bod a chance to catch up to the changes that had been taking place.

Original clothing size pre-op:
Pants/bottoms:  6x (could not wear 30/32W's from Fashion Bug)
Tops: 4X-5X depending on the style/cut (whether it was butt length or not)

Clothes sizes before Christmas '07:
Pants/Bottoms:  20/22
Tops:  18/20

What I can wear now:
Pants/Bottoms: 20 (18's in certain cuts/styles)
Tops: 16 - 18 depending on the style/fabric
XL t-shirts are fine, 1X -shirts give me room, and 2X t-shirts are becoming PJ tops

(OMG - just realized as I typed this that I'm approaching the point where my top size and my bottom size are getting close to being the same number - wow :)  Is it possible that my butt is now approaching normal proporions????)

And best of all - I spent the day today in a skirt and my thighs didn't rub together/chafe/catch fire like matchbox! :)  It's been a long-long time since I've had to "worry" about that - another thing to celebrate being "gone" :)

Certain folks seem to get their jollies comparing the eating rules and habits of different surgeries as though all things being "equal" - the people who eat less are thereby suffering and the people who eat more are somehow eating "normally."

Here's my take on this false premise.

1)  It's not suffering if it simply takes less volume to hit your "sweet spot" of fullness after a meal.  Not NEEDING to eat two servings of mac and cheese to "feel" like you've had what you've wanted of it is actually very liberating for most people, and what some folks who haven't had the more restrictive surgery will NEVER fully understand about it, yet they deem themselves somehow qualified to comment on it.

2)  People's definitions of "normal" eating tends to be warped - especially the formerly obese trying to tell others that eating more than 1 cup (chewed consistency) at a time is somehow "normal."  Normal for whom?  For the 60% of Americans who are technically overweight and obese?  Normal for an American and normal for a French person are two completely different concepts, for example.  A French person who begins to eat like a normal American will put on weight.  I've seen it first-hand.

The body (unaltered) doesn't need more than a cup of balanced nutrition at a meal.  A normal weight human being isn't eating "normally" when they eat more than 2,000 calories' worth of food consistently in a day.  Having a surgery that requires a person to take in more than that simply to maintain status quo is actually causing that person to eat ABnormally by default - despite whatever they may be convincing themselves of to the contrary.  There's absolutely nothing wrong with that if that's what their surgery choice requires - the problem is when they try to sell their version of "normal" as though it's the standard bearer, when it typically isn't.

3)  The same people who criticize other people's "rules" find themselves ironically posting menus and portions that aren't grossly different, yet still trying to convince themselves that the "others" aren't enjoying their food choices. It starts looking a little schizophrenic after a while to see the same mantras repeated in one post, only to find the same people posting menus of the same type they just got through crticizing. I've heard RnYers and DSers alike describe their bottom-line day as "I eat what I want, just not as much, and until I'm satisfied."  Both groups take food home in to-go boxes.  Both groups enjoy treats and holidays and good-tasting food.  I know of no one from any of the forums who follows a set-in-stone, paint-by-number menu of bland and boring.  The only people who have anything to complain about are those still healing from surgery, both sides, who are looking to move on and expand their choices.

I'm one of many RnYers who isn't limited in my choices.  I can have my carbs and eat them too.  But ask me if I "want" or "crave" those things or if I feel deprived when I choose to go for things that are healthier and more filling.....It's not "suffering" to pass by the doughnuts and leave them alone when I can have CHEESE! :)  and be full on its yumminess and get in some good protein at the same time.  I can still have the doughnut if I truly wanted it, with no irrational fear of weight gain, because I wouldn't need the whole box.  The difference is that I enjoy the cheese/protein so much more.  Food doesn't have the psychological grip it once did because my satiety point isn't still set at "bottomless pit" like it was prior to surgery.

4) I was not a person for whom the possibility of dumping syndrome factored into my choice.  And as it happens, it wouldn't have mattered, as I'm in the category of being a non-dumper.  

But there's a misconception out there that continues to be perpetuated by non-RnY folks that just because a person seeks the risk of dumping, it must mean that they intentionally SEEK to suffer.  That they'd WANT to be ill.  I know of no one who's ever considered the possibility of dumping syndrome being something they wanted simply for dumping syndrome's sake.  It's like knowing that sitting in the sun without sunblock can cause a sunburn, so you put on a certain SPF and still enjoy the sunshine.  People who forget to pack it will likely have a bad reaction.   Some can still go out in the sun for a little bit at a time and not have to worry about it.

Seeking help in behavior mod in this way isn't a weakness.  Anyone trying to convince people otherwise is off their rocker.
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It boils down to mind games.  There are some folks who want to feel like they're mavericks for choosing a surgery that isn't as well-known and yet works for them.  It helps the serotonin to think that other people are out there "suffering" and whining about not having made the same choice.  But the boards are full of people of all stripes who have never in their lives been more CONTENT and HAPPY :)  yes - HAPPY! :) with the rules for their procedure.  People who have just as easily dropped their weight and co-morbids.  

If normal means feeling like you 'have' to give in to every craving, have food still remain your lord and master (psychologically speaking) - then I think there are many people who would say that a certain group of people can "keep" their version of normal. 

It's a common theme in certain debates to discuss whether people who choose one surgery over another are informed "enough" about their choices or simply about what WLS "is."

One thing that occured to me in thinking back on my "long term" view of WLS was that I was once part of the "it's not for me" camp.  Too many risks, too illogical to re-arrange organs that were functioning fine in and of themselves - the usual things most outsiders still latch onto.  Was impressed with some people's losses, but knew that they had obviously made a choice that would endanger their health down the road, right?  That changed the minute I actually stopped listening to those claims and did my own homework.

The point is that for many of us - we arrived at the decision to have WLS after wading through that "outer" layer of misinformation about WLS in general.  That's no small feat.  And to say that people who've waded through that "initial" layer are somehow not informed "enough" if they then don't choose one procedure over another is extremely short sighted - more a function of the naysayer's personality than of reality.  Almost like saying "Everyone would buy my new gadget X if they only knew about it."  There is no such "gadget" or "surgery" X - human beings are always going to want and need different choices.  The battle is won when you get people to peek into the convention hall to simply "look" at the different booths.

The people we should be concerned about are the folks who are suffering, still struggling with the so-called "healthy" way of doing things, and yet believing the Oprahs of the world; not taking that step to simply find out what WLS is - still telling themselves, after decades of dieting failures, that this "one more time" will do it, and holding off another year, two years, five years, until they find themselves back even further than square one.  Once they get past that initial "door" - the decision is no longer an "if" - and the "misinformation mambo" isn't nearly as critical - that dance is going to be different for everyone who shows up to the party.

WLS isn't for everyone - certain procedures have advantages for certain conditions over others.  But the real irony is that people on OH are arguing amongst themselves, when the REAL battle is with the people who aren't even asking questions yet.  The folks who aren't reading OH.

Just my take on things.

Here's the wiki describing what it actually "is" - Clostridium Difficile

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clostridium_difficile

Two reasons why I'm posting:  

One: My grandmother developed it last fall after gallbladder surgery and it's now looking as though she's going to lose the battle - it never really went away.  The symptoms got better about a month ago, but she got some general lung crud happening and went back on antibiotics and "boom" - it came back.  Only this time it's kicking her butt - she was scheduled to have her colon removed this morning as a last-resort effort to get rid of it, but never made it into the o.r. - she went septic during prep and we're waiting to hear what the next step is going to be from here (she lives on opposite end of the country from us).  So - it's something we kind of knew was on the horizon, and I just needed to vent a bit.

Two:  you have to be careful with antibiotics and intestinal flora.  Antibiotics can't be avoided, and C-diff might actually be preferable to the alternative if you don't treat whatever condition it might be - but be sure you know what type of antibiotic you're being given, what the dosage is, and monitor your bowel health closely, whether you're recovering from surgery or treating an everyday kind of condition.  C-diff isn't easy to get rid of even for otherwise healthy people of a younger age.  

Not meant to scare anyone - it's more an exception than a rule that someone taking serious antibiotics would develop c-diff - but it's a consequence that many people don't know about or don't think about, and it can very quickly make life miserable.  Literally months of constant diahrrea and the toll that takes on the body.

**end of PSA**

My family's at peace with what may be happening with grandma - she has a strong, comforting faith in God, which in turn comforts us to know she's not afraid.  Just needed to take a minute to gather my own thoughts and offer the experience up to others for whatever it might be worth.

This was a great topic, and I thought it worthy enough to add my thread response to my blog, because these are things we have a tendency to push behind us as we get further out, but we all have a need to keep them with us and not ignore where we came from.  The idea is not to dwell on them.  I guess it's sort of like keeping a movie ticket stub in your pocket of a film that you like or provoked some thought, or you were with someone special that day and the ticket reminds you of what happened.  You go for weeks or months with that ticket in a pocket or your wallet, only to get reminded of it when it slips out onto the floor one day, whether your memories are now pleasant or tainted by what happened in between.

That's how we need to view our "breaking point" - we won't always need to "see" it, but at times when we get too far ahead of ourselves, convinced that we never had problems to start with or that surgery "erased" what brought us into the O.R. - it can be helpful to see that ticket stub fall onto the floor again and remind us of our "last straw".

My post:

Oddly enough - it was my feet that "woke me up" to looking at surgery.  Swollen beyond recognition, went to see what the deal was, looked at my chart for the last 3 years with my PCP and saw all my numbers were going up.  Was making excuses not to have to get up so often from my chair at work, was wheezing and zapped of energy constantly, never felt like I got enough sleep, making excuses not to run basic errands like even grocery shopping....

That got me to my consult - what put me in the "yes, WLS is my solution" camp was my sleep apnea diagnosis and the trouble I was having getting my pre-op weight requirement off even with dieting and more moving.  Titrated on Bi-Pap with pressures of 22/15 - at 28 you're talking ventilator.

Another 6-8 months of continuing with the status quo, and I was literally going to be homebound like folks on the "shows" that you look at and secretly thank God you're not "there" yet.  Well, I was "there" if I didn't get help.

And I was only 29 years old to boot, with a fiancé, a degree, and all kinds of ideas of things I still wanted to accomplish in life.  I didn't want to spend my 30's letting my obesity continue to run my life.

Best decision I ever made!  Can't even keep me in a chair for more than an hour - can't sit still that long anymore!

It was a banner day for my family - my mom got to her goal weight, and reached her 50-lb mile stone the same day.  Yay :)  Size 22 to a size 10 from May of last year to today.  We're very proud.  She followed WW to-the-letter, and she's not a person who necessarily struggled with overeating/emotional eating issues per se - so I'm putting that out there to start.  Myself and my sister developed different issues, hence WW alone never worked for me.

The only reason I'm mentioning it here is that she's an example of how people who are on certain chronic meds aren't necessarily doomed to issues with being able to lose weight.  (Not making that a blanket statement, as there are certainly folks for whom their meds cause issues).

1)  She has rheumatoid arthritis and osteopenia for which she takes continuous doses of prednisone and methotrexate.  Prednisone has a tendency to increase appetite and water retention, most people are only ever on it for a short duration.  When they go off of it, the water retention stops.  Generally if they put on weight after the water recedes, it's because the appetite caused more intake.  And when you're ill enough to require prednisone, the weight gain shouldn't be a concern.  Different story for folks who have to take it long-term.

For her - the prednisone was the only thing that made movement tolerable.  It enabled her to work her way up to doing treadmill work and strength training 3x a week  - which likely made the appetite control a little easier.

2)  Despite those things, and the fact that she's 50+, she lost every single week.  Only 2x during the whole journey did she ever even simply maintain.  1 lb. a week most of the time, some weeks where she lost 2 or more, but never even during celebration weeks did she gain.

Her doctor was impressed.  She herself was amazed - she's a critical care nurse and knows all too well what prednisone can do to folks.

Main point here:  Even when circumstances seem like they're conspiring against you - you still have the ability to combat them if you dedicate yourself to being healthy, no matter what method you're using to combat the weight.  As a non-op, she found what fit best with her situation and worked it flawlessly, and it brought her to goal. With the same resilience, she'll maintain like a pro as well.  She tells me she views it as a "for life" thing now, vs. just a means to an end. 

We post-ops are given a fabulous method and can have results just as amazing if we trust ourselves enough to follow the protocols we're each given and perservere knowing that we'll get there, and if we view it as an "in it for life" vs. "I'll be happy when I get to goal" and not think much beyond that.

Just posting for what it may be worth to someone wondering "how, when, if" they can overcome things that seem like obstacles.  Even people on heavy, weight-gain-stimulating medications can lose weight if they give themselves proper focus.

Chalk this up as one of the many WLS epiphanies I've had as a post-op.  

Had a nice meal with a friend after a team workout, caught up on life after the holidays, compared notes on kids, sigs, plans for the new year.

Dinner was a sandwich shop stop.  We both ordered subs - friend had hers with guacamole added to it, I had my meat, cheese, veggies and mayo.  Good stuff all around :)  But there were serious things being discussed, friend is stressed, and I noticed that it didn't take very long for her to finish her sub.  I worked on mine the whole time we were talking, stopped once in a while to breathe and sit back and be an active part of the convo.  I left a 1" end piece in my wrapper and tossed it.  Had enough at that point.

The difference between our two approaches struck me.  Pre-op, when I wasn't dieting, I would have ordered two of the same sandwich without blinking, gotten through the first one w/out a problem, may have paused as I started the second, but I would have finished it or taken it with me to work on as soon as I got in the door at home.  Friend isn't severely obese, loves guacamole, but I know she didn't have time to really "enjoy" it this evening.  I enjoyed mine, yet still was ok with not finishing every bite.

THAT, is the kind of difference I was hoping surgery would bring to me, and I can't express how wonderful it is to recognize that it's happened.

I no longer "load" food into my gut, I enjoy the tastes and textures.  It doesn't take "more" to equal "better" anymore.

And on the same token, I have more to add about how different my palate is after surgery vs. before (refers to the "tastes" FAQ above for other people's perspectives.)

1) There is a little bit of mechanics playing a role here - I can tolerate pretty much anything and everything, but I know, for example, that if I eat low-fiber breads and pastas, I can get backed up for a day or so, so I choose my breads wisely.  No more wasting time on simple Wonder white anymore.  If I have a sandwich, the bread has to be absolutely scrumptious and preferably whole grain and fiber-rich.  Not eating as much super-refined stuff has a tendency to change your craving for it.

Many people, even of the non-op persuasion, talk about this kind of thing as a mental strategy - for me breads/grains have been guided more by trial and error of my post-op regularity - but the idea still works - there's no point in wasting time eating food that doesn't taste good simply because it's "there."  If I'm going to spend the next 4 hours digesting something, and if it's going to affect my health and calorie intake that particular day - I want it to be the best-tasting I can find, or leave it alone.  I've heard some folks refer to it as the "Matthew McConaughey" test.  If you're going to invest in it, it better be as "hot" as (fill-in-blank-of-your-fave-hottie-here) or it fails the test.

2)  Smaller portions lead us to that "fuller" feeling much faster, so we want every bite to "count."  I'm much more satisfied with what I'm eating when I allow myself the time to really taste what I'm taking in.  I try not to eat in front of the t.v. or computer anymore.  Haven't eaten in the car since surgery.  I take the time to sit, breathe, un-distract.  Mealtime's an event unto itself.  Part of that stems from the chew, chew, chewing we all do as new post-ops when the pouch is healing and we're being careful not to test the waters.  Now that I can chew pretty much as I always did, I still find myself taking the extra time, because I'm enjoying my meal 100x more than I did before.  I don't try to swallow the gristle of  roast beef, for example- I remove it, it has no purpose, and leaves more room for the "good" part.  

3) There's a palate shift we all have as we get older - what we didn't like as kids, we like now, and some of that is probably happening for me, too.  I find my tastes trend a little more to the spicy, smoky, bitter/sour than they used to.

Examples:
Never liked brussel sprouts - now I don't go more than a couple of days without putting a single-serve steam bag of them in the microwave.

Never was much of a coffee drinker before surgery, but I pick and choose my coffee like a connaisseur picks a vintage wine now.

Chocolate prior to surgery, I could take or leave, and if I had it, it had to be sweet/milk variety.  Now I love dark chocolate-flavored things.

Ikea's Lingonsylt - I believe they're called chokecherries here - is what I add to my yogurt or on the occasional piece of toast.  It's similar to cranberry.

Peppermint and ginger are fab added to tea and mixed with certain fruits, grilled meat - and I wouldn't have thought twice about any of that before.

The point? (before my list becomes a tome):

I'm enjoying food now after surgery - it hasn't left my life, but I'm no longer a loader.  And as a loader, food had an irrational role in my life.  I let the food define my actions by accepting what was simply "there" or insisting that more was best.  Now I define the actions of the food by choosing what I like and insisting that it be top-quality for my health and my preferences.

Vive la différence!

There was a nice post over on the WLS Grads board about pouch volume and what people are noticing they can eat as they're 1+ yrs out, and it reminded me that I've noticed my pouch volume is still on target at this point.  No issues or worries about stoma size or hunger.  Here's what I wrote:

""""16 months out and my volume can vary by a number of things:

At time of month I can go as much as 1 1/2 cups of non-salad content. No idea why the hormone flux would allow for more than normal to fit, or "feel" like it fits, but magically, it does. That would equate to 3/4 of a 10" deli sub sandwich.

Any time I'm including dense protein like grilled chicken or steak, I get full at about 3/4 cup or less. When I fix an entree-size chicken breast, I usally end up tossing out the top 1/4 of it and get in a couple more bites of veggie, and that's it.

On a normal day, when there's no blue moon, and Aquarius is in the 3rd house of Capricorn (lol) - my regular capacity is about what would fit into a lean cuisine meal minus a couple of bites - about a cup of solids.

The time of month volume had me wondering for a while if something was amiss - but the holidays have reassured my that my pouch is still in working order.  I fixed a plate of shrimp, cheese, and deli meat, and didn't even get to a cup capacity before I was "done."  No need for the 5dpt.""""

Compared to my intake in the first 6 months of surgery - it's a definite change, but it's precisely the capacity it's intended to be - 1 cup to 1 1/2 cups at a sitting, and variances depending on the texture of what it is you're eating.

...and the realization that for the first time in my life, "getting to goal" isn't on the list - because it's going to happen this year :)  The only question is will I need to get summer clothes when I hit that magic number or some new fall fashions....

So I'm thinking a more appropriate resolution may be to start setting aside a new clothing fund - because I'm looking at the different things I have set as goals this year - and they're not all scale-related:

1.  I will finish a 5k race at a 30 minute pace at some point in the late summer.

2.  I will finish a sprint-distance triathlon in July - no goal set for pace times at this point as I'm still working on conditioning.  But this will require the purchase of some new gear at some point before July - I'm looking at wetsuits and falling over from sticker shock already...

3.  I will be traveling to Europe sometime this summer to revisit old stomping grounds and a certain special man, which will require a "jaw-drop" outfit.  Thinking the requisite tight blue jeans, euro-trash black leather blazer, and a white cami doubling as a blouse.  I may even go hog-wild and try some sexy-heeled boots for the first time, but that's still a "wait and see" thing. 

Can you see a trend here? :)  Another year of "firsts" and new sizes to conquer.  What a conundrum.

Happy 2008 to all - and best of luck with your resolutions - no matter what they may be!