Thursday Roll Call

Good morning everyone!  I didn't see a role call so I thought I would take a chance and start the ball rolling.  It looks like another rainy day here in Illinois.  I sure hope we get some real spring soon.  We picked up our little girl from Grandma's last night and she was very excited to see us.  She's really racing around on her new found feet!  It is so amazing to see a child who could barely walk two months ago, able to run now!  We took my mother to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner and I ended up having a few fork fulls of cheesecake.  Wouldn't you know it, this morning I woke up and my blood sugar was up at 175.  I really hate being so on the edge of disaster from such small amounts.  Hopefully, that will all change after I have my banding.  I don't really mind not being able to eat like I use to.  It just bugs me that even a small amount of sugar sends my numbers sky high.  It justn't seem very fair!  Oh well.  Have a great day everybody! Paul

Good morning Paul and Illinois...... At least it's not snowing! (YET) Perfect sleeping weather!  Is spring here? Paul I don't know much about the band but I know a lot of people who have it and love it!  I'm sure your life will get in order once you get on your way!  Your sugar hopefully will get a lot better also. I had my review yesterday.......and I was very dissappointed!  In fact I was really mad!  I felt as though my boss lied about a few things on it and along with a terrible raise (if that's what you would call it) It was an insult to my performance!  But what goes around comes around......and it just might be true!  They are going to lay off people for the first time in history!  Hmmmm  wonder who is going to get it......gotta feeling it could be my boss!  maybe me?  naw I make too little!  So I will think of it as a blessing in disguise.  Time will tell!  This has been brewing since right before my wls. Now what has every planned for this weekend?  Monica should be home today!  And 2 more wls this week.......today and tomorrow!  Losers all the time on this board!  You all have a good day! Pam 

Hey Pam!  Thanks for the words of encouragement!  I am in management and often have to give reviews.  In these harsh economic times, I get a lot of pressure from my bosses to give "bad" reviews so the company can justify not giving much in the way of raises.  I refuse to do that, but I know other managers who do.  I can't often get my employees much in the way of raises, but at least they get an honest review from me.  Unfortunately, integrity seems to be in short supply these days.  But hang in there!  I believe that if you are a quality person, and you do go work, the world will reward you no matter how dishonestly you are treated by your boss.  You are righyt when you say "what goes around, comes around".  In all of my management training classes, I was always taught to be a leader first and a manager second!  Unfortunately, not every boss has taken those classes.  You are an amazing person (just look what you've accomplished!), and the world will see it!  Don't let that turkey of a boss get you down.  And trust me, when the economy starts to turn, the money will come to you.  As for my weekend, I'm going to try and go to my first WLS support meeting at Centegra Hospital on Saturday morning!  I look forward to meeting some of the great folks who have started to support me on this board!  Paul

Thank you Paul......like Dawn said.....could you be my boss?  Anyways you are right and I know I am a valuable worker and such a perfectionist..... bad raise or not......the review was the thing that really upset me.  My boss is a very bad man that no one can work with, and he likes to steal....so the trust issues are there and no one would ever believe  how he really is.......he's quite the charmer!   So that's why I'm waiting to see how this whole thing plays out!   Thanks Paul for making my day!   You really did give me a boost!    Pam

Oh Pam.......sorry to hear that the reveiw did not go so well.  Paul knows what he is talking about, and I wish all bosses were more like him. Let's hope that you will not be one of the casualties of the crappy economy. Have a better day today!

Thanks Dawn, I have some options as a contractor within the company if they want to lay me off.....downside is no benefits. Pam

Good mornng Paul and Illinois! Day two of pre-op diet complete....12 more to go. It looks like a gloomy day out there today...but my little sunshines...Ava and Vince will be stopping by sometime to today. I can't wait to see them. Not much else happening here today. Have a great day everyone!

Good Morning Paul and the rest of Illinois! I don't know much about the band and diabetes, so I can only hope along with you that things will change afterwards.  We DO have quite a few bandsters on the board, so maybe one of them will know.  I also agree with Pam that they all seem to love their bands. I wanted to let you know that I was not kidding about coming out to Rock City in July.  Paul, I know that you mentioned the other day about being a professional musician, and being interested in folk music (if I got it right.....).  Well, at our little festival, the woman that owns the shop across the street from our house has music (and an art show) going on all afternoon.  They have a folk sing-a-long in the later afternoon and sometimes an "open stage" kind of thing.  The rock music is later on at the street dance downtown.   I am working today then home to left-overs for dinner.  Since I eat so much less, I have not yet remembered to cook less.  At least once a week, we have to "clean out the fridge".  The boys have Boy Scouts tonight and hopefully, Liv is feeling better by now.  Poor kid, she has been down with a cold all of her Spring Break. Tomorrow, I have to go to Madison for a mammogram/ultrasound to check out a lump that appeared a month or so ago.  When I was there two weeks ago, the doctor wanted to schedule these tests right away.  I do not know if I will get a chance to check in with you all, but a few good thoughts and prayers sent my way would be welcome. My boys are going camping at Eagle Cave this weekend, so it will be just us girls at home, and I am sure that we will find something to do.  I guess it depends on if this cold gets its hands on me and if Liv is feeling better. Monica should be coming home today and we have KimR and Kelly as our next newbies.  Please keep them all in your thoughts and prayers along with Kim who is healing nicely. Have a lovely, if cloudy, day all! I hope Lucy is OK.  I am looking forward to seeing you all at her party next month..........

Hey Dawn.  I'm not sure what's all going on in July right now, but if I'm able, I'll try and come to the festival.  It sounds like fun.  I may even bring a guitar!  I'm looking forward to seeing what it's like to play without my big belly in the way!!!  I know from my research, that the Gastric Bypass folks have an 83% TOTAL reversal of type 2 diabetes (with an additional 10% gaining very good control!).  The first surgeon I met with said that he beleived that the Lap Band surgery was similiarly effective in the reversal of type 2 diabetes, but I have not found any actual case studies yet.  In either case, I found that my weight gain has always made my numbers soar.  I'm just figuring that the loss of all the weight will have the same effect in reverse.  If not, I'll still have all the other benefits of loosing.  Unfortunately, my insurance plan excludes all WLS, so I have to self-pay and Gastric Bypass is not an option due to the huge cost difference.  But the original surgeon said that at my size (250), it wasn't really a major difference as far as he was concerned.  I believe that this is a second chance for me in life, and I have faith that the diabetes will behave if I do everything I'm suppose to.  I want you to know that my prayers are with you as you go for your tests in Madison.  The vast majority of lumps are just fatty tissue that calcifies.  Obviously, one can never be too cautious, but it's probably nothing.  In any case, please know that we are thinking good thoughts for you and God Speed back home!  My wife, daughter and I spent last weekend in an absolutely beautiful B&B just 20 miles north of Madison.  If you decide to enjoy the area for the weekend, you might check it out at http://www.jamiesonhouse.com/.  The inn keepers are old friends and they do a good job of taking care of their guests.  Good luck!  Paul

Thanks for the tip on the B&B!  I may check it out for the future.   My surgeon and hematologist/oncologist are in Madison and some of my son's doctors are up there as well.  Whenever we have something that the "regular" docs can't handle, we head up there.  We go to Madison quite often. We would love to meet you and your wife if you are free on April 19th.  We are having a pot luck get together in Wheeling.  It should be a great time. Our little town of 350 has this little festival every year.  Last year, Chris and Dave came out and really enjoyed it.  I have a big backyard and a grandaughter that will be 2 in June, so Merideth would have someone to run with.  They are SO FUN at this age!!!!!  Just keep it in mind.......... Thanks for the prayers.  I am not one to jump off any bridges before I get to them, and I know that most lumps are nothing, but there is still a tiny bit of apprehension in the back of my mind that I am keeping at bay.  A girlfriend has offered to go up with me, and I may just take her up on it.