WHATS HAPPENING MONDAY

Dear Jan and OH Peeps~

First of all, please keep Cassie in your prayers. I know its so scary to be pre-op and read posts like that-and I remember that just a week before I had my surgery-that Blondie had called me (my computer had died and so I couldnt read any posts etc) over Thanksgiving to tell me that Marilyn had passed away on her way home from the hospital in KC from having her WLS.... Well, it wasnt from the actual wls itself-but her heart and she had suffered a heart attack-but I didnt know that until a couple of days later and I am here to tell you that scared the crap out of me....I told myself over and over-that IF it is MY time to go, I am going to die on 11/29/06 whether I am on the operating table OR walking down to get my mail out of the mailbox. I believe, and maybe its my own comfort-but I believe that God knows when he is bringing you home.... so-thats how I got through that situation AND the fact that IF I didnt have the surgery-I was going to die anyway. I was pretty peaceful about it afterwards-I had to believe that IF God brought me to it-HE would lead me THROUGH IT-NO MATTER WHAT!!!

So pre-oppers, if you are worried, please know that YES, there are risks, this is a big surgery, BUT-you are obviously miserable with yourself AND your life the way it is right now-OR you wouldnt be seeking wls. I dont know many people who are absolutely completely healthy and seeking the surgery just to get in a bikini or a speedo-right? This is your life and you obviously have NOT had a diet work for you yet to get you healthy and so many have co-morbitities. I believe that you have to have those now-right? That only goes away for most of us after surgery. Remember Craig? Thats an AWESOME testiment. Keep your chins up, keep your thoughts as positive as you can!! IF you need help-get on board and talk to us. Thats what we are here for-and we will be there for you~~!!!! We ALL pray for you guys too-and we have awesome prayer warriors...Ok-Im getting off that subject. I know you know the risks, and know that we dont usually have those complications-so just put it out of your head that it will happen to all of you. It certainly will NOT...and we dont know what else was going on with Cassies health, right? All we can do is keep her in our prayers that she will be okay and healed.

Well, yesterday my SIL called me and said that they were having a huge clearance sale at Lowes and to come out if I wanted in on them. Well, my mom had gone during the day on Saturday and she got 2 hanging plants and 6 smaller ones-but still real good size - ALL for $5! When Aaron called me he said they were marked from .50-1.00, 3 big racks of them. So I told Mike I wanted to stop there first when we went to town. I got I dont know how many hanging plants and then whole flats, plus 2 spruce trees. I got a total of like 20 plants, hanging too-for $7!! It took up the whole back seat and floor board of the Suburban. I forgot potting soil though, so the boys and I are going to buy some of that in a bit and get our goodies planted or hung up. I did remember bird seed though, so need to get that out for all our beautiful birds. We have blue buntings and cardinals like crazy and then a ton of hummingbirds, so I need to get the 3 hummingbird feeders filled today too.

Poor Megan-she is really having the nausea-all day and through the night. Poor kid. Made her a little pregnancy kit in a little take a long pack, with crackers, tums and sprite. LOL.. it sure makes me sad to actually see her not feeling good-but I keep telling her that our little girl is going to have a TON of dark hair like she and Steph did when they were born. The old wives tail is that if you have a lot of heartburn, the baby has a lot of hair. I know, I know-but maybe it will make HER feel better-LOL... I know the end results will be worth all this misery, so thats what I think about-but then, Im not the one who is miserable right now-so that makes it easy!

The kids brought me home last night-and Mike had made us a de-lish dinner. He made marinated chicken, twice baked potatoes and then fresh green beans from our garden. We all went swimming after we ate dinner. The water was 83 and it felt awesome. My back had REALLY been killing me, so I sat on the steps and let the jet just massage my lower back. We are going to get back in there today after we get some flowers done and some weeding etc-the boys are weeding-we will break and then do some more, then break-

Im late getting on here this morning. I couldnt sleep again last night, but didnt have the energy to post or anything else. It was awful. I fell asleep at 3 or a little after, got up when Mike went to work-and went to town so I could take Kenny to dialysis. That wasnt a pretty situation-but I am going to be meeting with the director tomorrow. Enough is enough and I guess they realized I had enough of a medical background to string them up! I told them that IF they EVEN think about releasing him from their facility AGAIN like that-to be prepared to deal with the attorney we WILL retain, as we NOW have it on record of the bp being that low when he is released-and thats a huge no-no-and that when Kenny fell-I hurt my back helping him move and trying to get him off the ground-and that was uncalled for. She didnt even try to argue with me... She just kept apologizing. Told her it was too late for apologies since we have brought this to their attn previously and were promised it wouldnt happen again, well NO MORE! I dont care what their weekend plans are-they will have plenty of time to play on Fridays when they are unemployed. Which they WILL BE if they release him like that one more time. I will make sure and persue it until the company has no other options than to let them go. Kenny could die from this-and I am not messing around with it anymore!

Since I am running late, Im gonna get my replies posted and get going with my day.

**Jan-Oh, thanks!! I would LOVE to have those-how big of vehicle would I need to bring to the meeting to pick them up? Would they fit in the back of a SUV if the back seats are down? I will send you an email today or tonite.

Yes, I have told my mom that we WILL come to your house. I WANT to see those gardens-not just meet you somewhere. That wont show me the gardens!! LOL..

Take care and dont overdo it. Tell everyone hi. (Joe, Andrew and Susan)

**Bev-Ok, I KNOW its scary to see those kinds of posts-read my response up above and I will be emailing you~! Keep your eye on the PRIZE! YOUR LIFE!!!!

30#???? AWESOME!~ SUPERB!~WONDERFUL~ YOUR DOING GREAT!!!! The liquid diet DOES stink! I know-I remember. I will be emailing you about some tips with that too, I think I already did-dont remember tho. Will have to check. ITs ALL worth it and it helps your liver so the surgeon has an easier time with your surgery!!! 2 more #s and your in TWOLANDER??? CONGRATS! These are important milestones too-cause this is JUST YOU and your WILLPOWER losing these pounds-no surgery help.....Honey, Your going to be A-OK...You will eat BBQ again. Im not gonna lie-it may take awhile, maybe even more than a year-but how much better are you gonna feel that year later-when your healthy eating a little BBQ-your not gonna even care that you missed this one then! Your not going to care about the fish fry either.... I dont even CARE about food anymore! Some arent like that, but I sure am. IF I didnt have kids-I wouldnt grocery shop. I hate it and I hate "thinking" about food. Id rather not. I use to be all about get togethers and organizing OR thinking about the food etc-NOW...its like-potluck and bring whatever...I dont care. The get togethers now-are about being together and happy times, its no longer about planning big old meals and all that. Not for me anyway and I know some others are like that too.....Unless WE HAVE to-I just DONT THINK ABOUT IT!!!

Did you get your before pics and measurements done? MAKE SURE AND GET THOSE DONE NOW BEFORE YOU LOSE MUCH MORE!!!! These pounds you have already lost-CAN show in your pics ALREADY.....MAKE SURE AND GET THAT DONE!!! YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT-I PROMISE!!! I had a cow when Melissa took mine-cause she wanted a backside pic, full length AND both sides AND full frontal-and now-they are incredible to look at and when I am feeling bad about progress etc-I dig that out and look and think MAN!!!! I CANNOT BELIEVE THATS ME~~~ It doesnt EVEN look like me anymore-AT ALL! If I can get them posted in my profile OR emailed, I will send them, you will NOT believe its me. The people who attend the COF meetings have seen them and no one believes it!

We WILL keep your grandson and all of you, his family in our prayers! Im sorry he has to go back. That stinks! Tell him that we appreciate him and love him! OK? I would gladly shake his hand for what he has done for our country.

I will send you a list of the vitamins I take. A lot of people take what I take or take pre-natal instead of Flinstones. The only reason Im not taking pre-natal right now, is I gave my bottle to Megan...just keep forgetting to get more-but I am doing the flinstones and my labs are perfect, except have to do more iron and calcium-no matter what I took, would have to supplement. Wait and see what everyone says and you dont HAVE to spend that sick amount of money on ACTUAL BARIATRIC VITAMINS!!!!

Love ya girl and keep your chin up-PLEASE... Call ME IF YOU NEED ME OK?

**Sug-Good luck on the rocks. I hope you find them CHEAPER than that! WOWZA! The recipe I sent ya was for chicken enchiladas. They ROCK! You can use the low carb tortilla shells and the low fat cream cheese. They are wonderful. Let me know what you think. K? I was thinking of making them for the reunion this year.

I am praying for your ex SIL AND Your grandsons. I sure hope God does lead him to be a wonderful influence in those boys' lives and stop giving Chelle such a hard time and give her grief. This would be awesome and OUR GOD CAN do miracles in his life-

**Sheila-Im so sorry that happened! I know, I worry about camping when we are to get storms, seems like when I am not around 4 walls, some sort of storm finds its way to us-How scary. Im glad your okay though, thats whats most important! Yes, we WILL get together soon and camp and canoe maybe. Do you like to fish at all?

**Angy-Im so excited for you this week. I cant wait till you get the good news...Make sure and let me know...Angelette rules-to let your angel know BEFORE posting it-LOL....Love ya and I know your approval is right around the corner. I KNOW it is. Love ya and keep your chin up. K?

**Renee-Maybe the number I have for you IS your cell? I will email you and make sure. IF you have Cingular, we can talk for free...or after 7 pm if you dont, mine is free then, so depending on the plan...we will get it all figured out. Keep your chin up....you didnt say what kind of mutts you have. I have known more "mutts" that were good dogs than expensive pedigrees~ Love ya. Cant wait to talk to you.

**Tammy-Ammy-so good to see you back. Wish your post wouldve gone through.....Glad to see ya have missed ya. Praying for you constantly. Take care and I will talk to you soon, you know that!!

**Bec-I am going to keep doing the weekly weigh in. YOU DONT have to be post op to it! The weight you have lost preop is important too. Seems to be harder to take off each pound beforehand. To me-it was harder than after surgery when it came off fast. I had to work for those 51# before hand-and had gained 7# back...right before surgery due to my monthly and the 5 hr ride up there caused water retention-so it only showed 44#, but they were tough ones, thats for sure-so yours count, dont doubt that AND IF YOU get inspiration from it-I will keep it going, as long as it helps at least one person, you know? You got it. I sure hope your back feels better. Does your tummy hurt or are you sick just from your aches and pains? I will pray for healing for you!!! Im also praying for good results tomorrow for your LAST APPT!!! WOOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!! Please post and let us know how it goes!!!! I cant wait!!! Love you and your in my thoughts and prayers!

Well, its time for me to sign off and get going....Gotsa LOT of stuff to start and finish and Im dragging butt today...spent 4 days hurting like there was no tomorrow-so it really played a number on me...Take care everyone. As always, your in my thoughts and prayers. Janet