HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WARM WELCOMES!!!

  This morning George suggested I start a new thread and give you some info about myself.

   I just now got home from school...what a day.  I'm exhausted!! 
   My name is Marcy.  I live in Owego, NY.  Its rainy and chilly here right now which is how our whole summer has been.  I'm single, thats a whole story in its self..I have three children.  My daughters are 25 (SIGH,,,yes they are identical twins), my son is 23 and my granddaughter (who is in the picture with me) is just 5..and just started kindergarten.  She is a joy!!!
   I teach in Vestal NY.  I think this is year...hmmm...35..something like that.  I haven't always been in Vestal.  I also taught in Lancaster, PA and Santa Fe, New Mexico.  I teach the deaf and hard of hearing and absolutely LOVE it.  I may never retire..but ..then again I may never be able to retire.  I won't be able to afford my health insurance if I do.
   I had RNY surgery in July of 2008 and have lost 198 pounds.  I'm still losing.  I have had many many complications.  I won't bore you with that and I'm still having some abdominal pain which the doctors can't seem to find a physical reason for it.  SOOOOOOO...of course they come back with...well maybe you should go and talk to the shrink again.  I refused...told them the pain was in my belly ...not my head.
   I have 3 cats...prissy little things.  One is just plain needy.  The male thinks he is king and my little long haired beauty thinks she is a princess...sounds like my kids really.
   I happened on this forum page because of Annette Robbins, who is my support group leader.  She is at this time in Dallas raising a ruckus.
   I have a few hobbies, I like to do embroidery, paint , read and I'm a sucker for the old movies that my mom used to like.  My mom is still around..almost 80. 

  Guess thats about all...don't want to bore you.  My life can be pretty dull and I really like that.  Although some excitement is fun.  I did go to a casino in NY with my son this summer.  He took me to see the Moody Blues in concert.  I think I shocked him!!!!!  He saw a side of me he had never seen before.   It was awesome and hilarious!!!
   Nice to meet you all...and any questions...just ask.  I'm not shy.

  Marcy 

Nice to meet you, Marcy. I'm Eileen, 54, single, have two cats (had three, but Diva ... just as her name sounds ... decided she didn't want to poop in the litter box. So she is living back at the cat rescue shelter in the senior room even though she is only 7).

I understand about not being able to retire. I probably won't be able to retire either ... if the newspaper industry survives that long. I'm a copy editor at a newspaper in Grand Rapids, MI.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome Marcy.  You'll like this forum.  You can bet Annette is raising a rukus!
My son and DIL are both teachers.  My DIL just got her masters and one day wants to be a principal.  I think she's nuts, but it's her life.  She's pregnant with their first son so maybe she'll change her mind after becoming a Mom and seeing how much time that takes up.  I had my surgery in July 09.  I'd like to lose 90-100 pounds.  I guess I'm considered a lightweight because I didn't have as much as some to lose.  I had the co-morbidities tho, and after losing only 42.5 pounds, my medications have changed or gone away and my insulin is almost down to nothing.  I couldn't be happier.  I need to join a gym (I just moved).  I had a lifetime membership at Fitness USA, but they don't have any gyms in this area so I've got to find something up here (northern Michigan).  My exercise consists of walking my three dogs, but my surgeon's office manager says that's not enough, so probably in November I'll find a gym.
Hope you enjoy this forum.
Jan

Welcome. 
I am 59 and married for 40 years last Sunday.
Have 2 children - daughter (special needs) is 37 and son is almost 26 and on
Tuesday I was presented with my second grandaughter.. what a great feeling.
No pets at our house right now.
Have cousins all over the world.  Love to travel.
Sheri

  I loooove to travel too.  However, my wallet and bank account don't like it when I do.  I've always packed my travel with moving.  But , I did really enjoy my last vacation that was in Mass and Maine.  Lots of fun at the ocean...and fresh lobsta...YUM!!!

Marcy

Hi Marcy!!

I normally not on this forum, just discovered it, but saw WHO you teach and wanted to commend you!!  I bought a home and moved my older dau and hub in along with their 4 children, the two youngest born with a rare treacher collins syndrome. So both were born with out ears, incomplete jaws, and have trash's, feeding buttons, but have part of a BAJA hearing device that is being implanted, What I wanted to say is our sign teach is fantastic and I do think what you do to teach deaf is Wonderful   !!!!!

Thank you for all you do for these children!!!

Deb

  Thank you Deb!!!  I can only say ...I love my job and my kids.  I've been doing this for about 35 years..and I still get cards, letters, and phone calls from kids that I taught with info about weddings, new babies, jobs, careers etc.  It was definitely my calling in life.  I can't imagine doing anything else.   And I just love using sign language ..I don't get to sign alot, but its like riding a bike, I've never forgotten how to do it.

 Marcy

I'm chiming in as a newbie, too!     I'm a lightweight with many comorbidities who had
RNY in Mexico in June 2009.   Today I'm 3 months out and 50 pounds lighter!   Whoo hooo!
I lost my job in May and decided this was the perfect time to do something for me and my health.  I have two new grandsons ( one turned 1 in Aug and the other 5 months) that I want to be around for.  Feeling better already!
No pets. . . my wonderful cats both "wore out" in the last year or so.  I miss them, but still find clumps of fur around, so at times feel like they are still with me.
I'm 57, have two grown sons and a great husband of 31 years.  Life is good.
Nice to meet y'all!

Tuna

 Welcome aboard Tuna.  My story is below, but basically I did it for the same reason as you and so many others.  I want to see the grands grow up.

 There you go Marcy!

I am George.  I am 58 years old.  Happily married for 35 years.  All 35 years, really.  I have 2 kids, 34 and 32.  Six grands, 3 of each.  11,7,5,5,3,1.  My two five year olds are 4 days apart.

I had my surgery in Dec 2007.  I have lost 150 lbs.  Very happy I did the WLS.  My life is wonderful (if you don't mind bills).  

I am an avid Texas Rangers fan, season ticket holder.

I guess most of all, I love paying it forward (to steal a line from Yvonne McCarthy).  I spread the good news about my surgery to anyone who will listen.  And even those who won't.