Hey everyone!!! I am still alive!

Thanks for all the Mother's day cards they were so thoughtful!! I have so many people that I need to reply to, that I thought I would just try to get them all here!! I hope you all don't mind! Just skip it if I go on to long! We had a nice trip and made it to Austin with good spirits and health! My kids travel so well and we all just had a great time! We took several extra days since we didn't have our stuff for a few days anyway, so we made short car rids and long pool hours! I love spending so much time with me family, it sort of got me thinking about homeshool! Then my husband said, "are you nuts?" I know just a weird Mom idea! I can tell you were all the good popcorn stops are between Indy and Austin! FWI I lost my cell phone on the trip, but the hotel has found it and is sending it to me, so if you have been calling I have no idea! The kids are in school, and seem pretty happy! I have been really trying to get my house together and am really starting to see the results of all my labor! The neighbors are so great! They have been cooking and backing for me since we came! I have many Moms that want to walk with me and a few that want to child care swap with each other! That is so cool! I feel so blessed and welcomed, but at the same time, I wonder if things would be different if I was still over 330 lbs? I hate the rules of our society! Enough about me!! Dawn I am so sorry to hear about you home! Prayers! I am so glad that you have come out ok and your PS went as planned! The pain will get better! You are a strong human and that will prevail! Pamela you look so beautiful! I am so proud of you and the girls made me print you new picture and put on the fridge! I also sent it to my mom! Melanie I have been missing your sass! You look so pretty and happy! I love your hair; I hope things are getting better on the home front! Ellen when does your daughter leave? Sherri how is Bill? What is up with Angie and Ed? Jessica great job on the loss you will be running with me soon! Mendi My heart goes out to ya and I am sending some prayers your way for strength. Find what is true in your heart and head for that! Things can get bad, but with support and faith I know they will look up soon! Linda Vicory I am always so excited to see what you are doing each day! You do so many fun things with your kids and for yourself. You inspire me! Dan I am so excited for you to be pain free! God is good! Darrah That baby gets prettier with each new photo and so does her Momma! Looking good! Congrats to all the new postops and approvals!!! I know there are so many more people that I need to say stuff to, but I will try to catch them another time! Got to run- Blessings, Carmen

I am so happy you made it safe and sound. Not a day goes by that I dont think about you and have missed your posts of encouragement. Its great that kids travel well mine always did too makes the trip so nice. Its also nice they like their new school. Cant wait to see pics of your new place . God bless and have a wonderul week vicki

I knew there was a reason I loved those girls so much!!! At first I was afraid they would hang them up in the basement to scare off all the rattle snakes. Im glad u finally got to post. You are so right about these new girls doing so good. I know all the ones from our "girls day out" have been doing an excellent job. Ive kept in touch with all of them since u left by phone, email and posts. We were all at the clothing exchange too. U were missed there but I did still got some of your clothes....I got the bras....LOL. Probably the best ones Ive had since surgery....so Thank you for sending them even though u couldnt be there. I too have wondered how Angie is.. I never seem to see her post anymore. Angie whats up with u girl???? Ive been missing Sally too. That girl never posts enough in here and her big day is coming up really soon. I would love to know how shes doing. Im gonna have to email her this week too. "Sally where are you???" Ellen, Cindy and Jan both looked amazing the last time I saw them. U would be so proud of them. Im so thrilled for Dan that hes finally getting some relief and even more thrilled for Ann cause she puts up with his butt. Got to love a good woman!!! Love ya and I'll talk to u Thur or Fri once Andys back to work. Pamela

HELLO 'LIL SISTER!!!! It is so good to hear from you!! I have missed your daily posts, but sure understand why you haven't had a chance!!! So glad you have found a great neighborhood- I know how important that is! Children seem to adapt so much easier than we do, don't they?! Don't you love Austin??? my Aunt & Uncle live in Bastrop- about 20 miles due East from there, and love it. It is where the State Park is and the black oak trees/forest. We had a wonderful time when we were down there- so much to do & see. My daughter is moving to Fla. the 6th of June, right after the kids get out of school. We are going down with them staying at my MIl trailer in Venice Beach till the 14th, and then the 15th we meet our friends in Ga. for a week, come home & get the camper ready & head to Minn. the 27th.~~~~Whew- I'm exasted just thinking of it! I just hope that they are happy there, and can find friends and a church home quickly. So glad your doing well, girl! I know that your weight loss has had to make a huge differance in your abilities to set up house,take care of your daily chores,family, on & on. Keep posting when you can and I am sending you a ((((((((BIG HUG)))))))!!! Love ya, Ellen

Hey Carmen, It is so good to see ya posting, you have been missed! I am happy that you all had an enjoyable and safe trip! Good to have children who travel well, makes it much more entertaing! You will be a great child swapper, those kids won't want to go to any other mothers house, your family is about to grow again, LOL!!! Were you all able to sell your home here, yet? I am doing better, the plastics I think is coming along fine. I think of you often, especially when I saw you, you were 9 days post op- Thursday I will be 9 days post op, and so far I can do about 10-15 minutes on my feet and I am so uncomfortable after that, I MUST find a seat! I don't have too much swelling, some but not bad and hardly bruised at all! I am so happy with going to the same facility as you ! We are hanging in there day by day with the house fire. Keeping our chins up and taking it day by day. Everyone who has supported us and been there has been such an impact. I am so thankful that we did have some insurance and that things are starting to fall into place- going through the insurance trials and tribulations as normal but it is working. Keep posting, miss seeing ya. Look forward to seeing some new pictures! Hugz- Miss Ya- Dawn

Carmen I am so glad that all went well and you are doing well... It's fantastic to see your smiling face on here... I haven't started running yet, i'm scared it's going ot hurt... but tomorrow my husband starts his job i will be home by myself and i'm going to go for it... do it during the day when not many people are home huh? I hope you get things settled soon... is it hot enough down there for you? Take care of you and yours and GOd bless! Jessyca

Jessyca- First off I was wondering? Do your friends call ya Jess? And if so am I a friend and can call ya Jess??? I just wanted to give you some of my personal running experiences! This is just me and not meant to slow ya down or discourage you at all! You are you and every person is different!!! I started out not even being able to go more than three minuets! And that was walking!!! I had heart surgery after an attack and was very over weight! I knew what I wanted, but felt so overwhelmed and ashamed that I never thought I could get to it! I started out doing it after everyone was gone for the day! I would have cried trying to work out in front of my family. I did cry after each session for about a month. I could only go for 3-7 minuets before I had chest pain and felt like I was going to vomit. A few times I did vomit and often I had to take a break! I just kept going everyday!! I was so excited when I could do 30 minutes at 3 MPH I was just ecstatic. Then I saw the exercise girl at my clinic and she said you need to do incline and longer..... I thought she was smoking crack and that I would never get to that. But long story short.... I have been at it as close to 7 days a week as possible and I can do 90 min. and go up to 12 on the incline and back down.... so if I can so can you!!! KEEP THE FAITH IN YOU AND GOD!!!! Blessings, Carmen ps I work out in front of anyone now!! Big wow to be able to do that!!!!

Carmen, So good to hear from you. I'm glad you're getting settled and it sounds like you've found a great neighborhood. When we moved, we knew it would have been so much harder a year ago. Thankful our move was after WLS too. Take care and keep in touch. Floyd

Hi Carmen. I've been thinking of you a lot lately and wondering how you were getting along with your move. I have cousins that live in Tx and love it there. Hope you are prepared for a long hot summer. Got a pool near by? Good to hear from you.