Weekend Roll Call :)

Maggie So glad you realized the Vicodan problem on your own! I always wonder how docs can just write these 'scripts without thinking twice! Hang in there..this too shall pass. Hope you are feeling lots better soon. I love my Mary Kay things btw...and hope to have you come a do a party at my house sometime in January. Hugs Joanie

Hi Linda, Hi everyone in CT. The last few weeks have been tough for me with all the temptations all around. We have sweets at work, I have been baking at home, for Christmas and for school things too. I got a beautiful basket of food from my boss, and most of it has sugar in it. I have not had any sugar at all since before surgery in May, and it has been relatively easy up until now. I am sure I could get away with a couple bites here and there, but for me that is the beginning of alot more bites. Sugar was always my greatest downfall, so I just choose to avoid it now. Remembering it is my healthy choice to not eat it (rather than for a diet) makes it easier. If I think I am depriving myself, I will go all out on a sugar binge. If I keep it in my mind that I chose to have this surgery to become healthier with healthier habits, then I am ok with not eating it. In a couple more weeks the stuff will all be gone, and I will not have sabotaged myself. I AM SPEAKING ONLY FOR MYSELF - BY THE WAY. I will get in major trouble just having one bite. For the weekend, I have my Christmas dinner for work tonight. Tomorrow I am taking my daughter and my niece and nephew to see Santa on the Santa Train in Danbury. We are picking up and installing the wood stove on Saturday also. Then Sunday probably a movie with the kids. Have a great weekend everyone! Happy Holidays to you all! Anne

Hello Everyone! I am so glad the sun is out and it is a bit warmer!!! I do not have any Holiday Parties to attend. There is one for my husbands bowling league tonight and I offered to make cookies for his teams contribution. I bought frozen cookie dough for a fundraiser and my daughter is the only one who eats the cookies so I found this to be a perfecr opportunitie to get the rest of it out of the house w/out creating any temptation! I have a couple gifts I still need to pick up and lots of wrapping to get done this weekend. Hopefully my DH will take my daughter shopping for my gift and I can finish my wrapping then! I need to clean the house and other than that we need to figure out what's wrong w/ the outside lights. Didn't check them before hanging them and only 1 out of 5 strings works!!! I wanted to cry. Sunday maybe we will go see Polar Express if it is still playing! Have a great weekend everyone!!!! Carmen

Hello Lovely Linda! I wish you and all here the exact same! This weekend- I'm going to FINISH my christmas shopping.....finally! I don't usually procrastinate, but this year, for some reason, I've been hemming and hawing over the perfect gifts...I just can't make up my mind! So, it's a shopping marathon for me! Hope you all have a more peaceful weekend that I do! love, lisa

I can not believe how many surgeries are coming up!!! I am so happy for all of you. This is such a magical time of year. I wish everyone the best and a happy holiday season. I had my surgery 21 weeks ago and I have lost 70 pounds so far!!! This has been a wild ride so far. I have learned so much about myself and also found out I have so much more to offer all at the same time. To those about to have surgery really think about your support network. I really think this is an important part of your post op care. Look into support groups, social workers or family and friends. This board is a great tool also. Just make sure you share your feelings. I learned this the hard way. Happy Holidays, Chryssie

Hi Linda! You sure are right about "the agony of waiting"...I will be so let down if the insurance falls through....I don't even want to THINK about it! I have gone from being a skeptic to having my heart set on it...it is in God's Hands at this point...but being typical me...I would like to help Him along! A Warm and Wonderful Holiday to You and Yours! Sher'

Hi Everyone, Well, I've been lurking around reading all the wonderful things that are happening to people who are having the surgery and scheduled for surgery. I am so happy for all of you and awaiting my turn, impatiently I might add. I finally lost weight enough for the nutritionist at Dr. Barba's office to approve me for the surgery. That was my last hurdle and now I have to wait for the office to call me with an appointment to meet Dr. Barba. I'm suppose to wait 3 to 4 weeks, but the he## with that. .. i'm calling next week. .lol. The bad thing is that I quit smoking 2 1/2 months ago, but because I was so stressed out with family problems, my job and waiting for this surgery, I picked it up again. Now I have to go through the agony of quitting again AND not gain any weight! Hopefully, I'll be on the loser's bench with the rest of you early in the new year! I can't wait! Take care everybody and Happy Holidays!!!

Delicia- Great picture-always nice to put a face with the name. Congrats on the weight loss. You quit smoking for that long..you can do it again!! You are on your way to a life full of health! Keep in touch!! Hugs Joanie

Hi Everyone! My turn to check in! I went to the docs yesterday to get my release to go back to work. There's a new guy in with Dr. Reinhold I saw (a real cutie) he saw me in the hospital. Anyway, I told him I was still having a pretty sharp pain in my incision in this one little spot. He felt it and I saw stars. It's a subcutaneous stitch which may be wrapped around a nerve. Not good. They wanted me to stay out 2 more weeks but I begged, I have had my fill of Dr. Phil and Oprah and need to use my brain. They can't cut out the stitch just yet because it's too close to my surgery. So in 2 weeks I go back and they'll do it in the office (thank God) Can I just tell all of you how terribly sick I am of doctors and hospitals??? I had this surgery in 2003 and I just seem to be a magnet for every annoying side effect. Nothing super serious, but I do seem to get them all. I also lost 8 pounds and they are making me do shakes to put on weight. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd have to GAIN weight. I am going to attempt going shopping tonight with hubby. My daughter wants to make her boyfriend dinner (poor guy) and they wants us gone. So we'll go to dinner and brave the mall. I'll sit where I can and rest. Love you all! I just need to thank so many of you that have emailed me and just made me feel so good. I can't tell you what it means to me. love Cheryl