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 May 2002 - I promised my self when my son was born in February 1998 that he would not start Kindergarten having a fat mom!  Well, I now have less than 16 months before he starts and I'm 47lbs heavier than when I went in for my C-section.  I have been up & down, trapped in this yo-yo cycle of weight loss and am so tired of always feeling tired, no energy, blah, blah, blah that I have decided to look into this procedure.  I actually am determined that I have to have this done.  Either my son is going to have a skinny Mom by the time he goes into Kindergarten or he's not going.  LOL...can't do that.  But, really I want to be there for him throughout his school years and at almost 35 years of age...I shouldn't feel like twice my age just because I'm twice my weight.  Guess that's all for now.

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Me & my baby boy 02/14/98 (He was less than 2 weeks old)

June 16, 2006 - Well...I considered surgery back in 2002 when a friend had it done.  Then I changed my mind because he complained of dizzy spells and weakness.  I figured either I lose it or I don't.  Well, here I am...4 years later...right where I was then.  Since that first entry...I had a little girl in October of 2003.  This time I promise myself, my daughter will NOT be the one in kindergarten with the FAT mom!  
I had a sleep study done on 05/22/06 and turns out I have sleep apnea...stop breathing 40 times per hour when I'm in REM.  So I have decided this is no longer an option, but a MUST do.  I tried to add a picture of me on here, but didn't seem to work so if anybody wants to see how freaky I looked with all the wires...here's the link to it on webshots: http://community.webshots.com/photo/551429284/2785523450060039001ovjOGR
I reserved my space for the session on 08/06/06 to find out all the information and get my application.  I can hardly stand it; I'm getting so excited.  My sister is really worried and scared about me having WLS, but I think it will be the best thing for me.  After 35 years of weight problems and 25+ years of dieting...I just can't wait!

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06/21/2006 - I went in for my 2nd sleep study...to sleep with the CPAP mask.  OMG...I went to bed about an hour or two earlier than I normally would at about 9:30pm and by 4am I was soooo rested and alert that I was ready to get up and start my day.  I normally have my alarm set for 6am and hit that snooze button quite a few times because I normally feel so exhausted.  I can't wait to get my machine at home.  After the great feeling I had yesterday...I was really hard today to feel this exhaustion after not sleeping with the CPAP last night.  My hubby has a CPAP at home and still hasn't been able to sleep with it a full night.  I told him last night if he isn't going to use his, I'm taking it till I get mine!  I can't believe this is the way I have been feeling for who knows how many years (decades).  Tomorrow is my 39th B-day.   Now I'm just counting down the days until 07/06/06 when I go to the information session at Legacy Good Samaritan.

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Here's 3 other reasons why I want to lose 1/2 of what I weigh!

06/22/06 - Happy B-day to me!!! I got a call from my doctor's office yesterday...just after updating saying doc got results of sleep study and ordered my CPAP, should get a call in a day or two to set up appointment for me to go get it...yeah...restful sleep on it's way.  My sister will arrive here from California in less than 48 hours with her 7 year-old girl.  My 8-year-old boy is looking forward to it.  I am too as my sister promised she will get on a healthy eating plan (diet) to help me lose some weight.  I told her I probably have to lose about 30lbs before I can have surgery so she said she'll help and it will help her lose some too!   Ok...gotta run and pick up my precious kids & go on home! 

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Here's some pictures of me at my biggest!

06/28/06 - I got a call Friday that I could go in on Monday and pick up my CPAP.  OMG...I cannot believe the difference in how I feel in the mornings when I sleep with that mask on.  I am waking up 1/2 hour before my alarm goes off, rest and ready to start my day.  Without the mask I would hit that snooze button as many times as possible before I knew I'd be late getting out of the house...and I would be dragging...I can't believe I felt that crappy all these years just because of the sleep apnea!  I was worried my two year old was going to be freaked out by the mask, even though I have the smallest one with just the nose pillows ...still looks like the movie "The Fly".  Well, I put it on and started trying to talk to her through my mouth making funny gurgling noises and she just started laughing so needless to say...she fell asleep watching mommy and wasn't the least bit scared.  My sister arrived here (Oregon) from California on 06/24/06 with her daughter and spent 3 days with us.  She is off in Washington right now trying to house shop and should be back by Saturday.  I'm going to get her do start walking with me in the evenings since she'll be here for over 1 month.  We were hit with a heat wave the same day she flew in and temps were 104, 105 for the 3 days she was here.  My feet were sooo swollen, I thought they would explode...I'm surprised I don't have stretch marks from how tight the skin was.  I'm sure that's only 20% due to weather...80% due to weight as I am always somewhat swollen and my ankles look like hell!  Well enough for today...more next time.

07/17/06 - I went to the session for Legacy Good Samaritan in Portland on 07/06/06 for all the information on Gastric bypass and Gastric band (Lap band).  I have decided I want the band instead of the bypass, even though the weight loss is slower.  I have already completed my application and mailed it back to them on 07/07/06.  My husband went with me and he wants the surgery also, so I've mailed his application off on 07/14/06.  I feel like I might have gained a few more pounds...just feel so swollen.  My belly is what just really upsets me more than any other part of my body!!!  I'm having a lot of issues right now and just want to get the WLS done!  Will write more as I find out.  The WLS clinic said it would probably be 3 to 4 weeks before they contact me.  I have a follow-up visit with my pulmonary doctor this Friday 07/21/06 to see how the CPAP machine is working for me.  He also has the letter ready for me recommending the WLS. :)

07/20/06 - Ok, just had to update with the fact that I confirmed a staff member at the clinic that they finally show they have received my application (as well as my hubby's) and I should here from them within the next 3 - 4 weeks to start scheduling testing.  I also spoke with one of my dearest friends last night (Angie - known her for ever and been friends since 2nd grade).  She is also the Godmother to both my children and her oldest son is the Godfather to my little girl.  She said she would come up from California to be here with me for 3 - 4 days for the surgery.  I know I can count on her.  She has done what she could in the past to help me with my weight.  I remember back in our early 20's, she was a counselor at Jenny Craig and got me her 40% discount on the food the 2nd time I was on Jenny Craig, just so I would stick with it.  Also, my first friend from birth (Frances - also one of my few true friends) said she'll come out, so we are going to try to schedule it so that Angie comes out for the first part and then Frances comes out for the other part.  They are both in California.  It's incredible the support I am getting...my other friend Patty that I have known for about 10 years or so said she wants to come also...so I figured I'll be good to go for close to 2 weeks having good friends near me!  I'm going to look for a dermatologist for some skin issues...don't know if they also handle the extreme swelling of my ankles...guess I'll find out.  Ok...I'll update after I see my pulmonary doc tomorrow.

07/25/06 - 314.4 lbs - So I went to my lung doctor for that follow-up on the CPAP and he said I'm doing great...said my readings show I average 6 hours 51 minutes a night with it on.  That sounds about right to me...I usually slap it on a little after 11pm and get up about 6am.  He said not everybody adapts well...I know my hubby has had his since like January and still can't make it through the night with the mask on.  On a crappy note...I weighed in at 314.40lbs...so I gained almost 5 1/2 more pounds.  I can just feel it too...seems like it went straight to my belly.  Ok so changing the subject...we drove out to this town...Walla Walla, WA (famous for their Walla Walla Sweet Onions...anyways...went to check this town out because my sister wants to move there and is just in love with the place and told me not to say anything negative about it since I've never been there.  So now I've been there...and now akk I really know is the place isn't for me.  Too small of a town for somebody born and raised in a big city.  Here in Tualatin (just outside of Portland) is small enough for me.  But whatever...the point of this story is that we stayed at this hotel...La Quinta and the lady upgraded us to a room with a full Jacuzzi...I thought cool right?  Wrong...the actual little room for the toilet and stand up shower stall was so tiny...I had enough room between each hip...just enough so as to not scrap my skin against each wall.  Then almost had to squeeze my big butt and belly between the door to that tiny room and the wall to the shower...humiliation!!!  I'm so sick of this...it was completely impossible just to be able to properly clean my @$$ in that small confining space.  And I thought my bathroom at home was small.  I'm a really clean person and can't stand to have anybody stinky around me, so it's really upsetting if I feel that I'm not clean to the fullest degree.  This place just sucked all the way around.  I got in the hot tub with my too kids and got all grossed out because of stuff coming out of the jets.  The swimming pool had scum built up all around it.  Won't be going back there!  To top it all off...my husband got a speeding ticket on the way there...$244.00.  Ok...well update more as I find stuff out or be back before then if I have to vent some more.

07/27/06 - 319.4 lbs - Major swelling in my feet...lots of pain.  Crying...went to the Doctor...miserable.

08/04/06 - Been meaning to come back to update...I ended up going to the doctor last Thursday the 27th because I was so swollen I literally thought the skin on my feet and ankles was just going to rip open.  Gained another 5lbs.  Doctors says it is not fat gain...definitely water gain.  Blood pressure was 130/90.  Put me on water pills.  Went back on 08/01/06 and the 5lbs were gone.  But blood pressure 132/90 so now I'm stuck on blood pressure meds to keep the water retention down.  I'm going to see a dietician this afternoon.  I just want this damn weight off.  I'm 39 and with all the aches and pains, I feel 89.  Oh and I had to leave work today about 5 minutes after I got there because daycare called said daughter threw up everywhere and had to be picked up.  Fever 102.2.  I took her to the doctors and my poor little 2 year-old has strep!  My 8 year-old son had it last Friday.  Well, that's all folks.

08/07/06 - 312.2 lbs - Ok so Friday I went with the dietician yesterday and my primary doc had faxed her my info.  So now I'm on a low-sodium diet.  Can't have more than 2000 milligrams a day.  But she did say I'll get 1650 - 1900 calories a day and should be able to lose 1 to 2lbs per week as long as I spread my food intake out through the day instead of just the one meal a day, since that slows your metabolism.  She weighed me and I was down another almost another 2lbs, weighing in at 312.2 lbs.  Still waiting for a call from Legacy Good Samaritan so we can get the ball rolling for labs and everything needed so I can get this surgery!  I go back to my primary on Sept. 1st, hopefully the WLS place will have called me before then!  Write again soon.

08/22/06 - 309.9 lbs - I keep meaning to get on here and update...I went to the doctor on 08/17/06 to get antibiotics because I got a 3rd piercing on each ear and ended up having one get infected.  I weighed in at 309.9 lbs.  Lost a little over 2 lbs since the last time and about 9.3 lbs since I weighed 319.2 lbs.  I finally got called by Legacy Good Sam and have my first appointment on 09/15/06 for the EKG and Psychological test I have to take (560 questions).  Then the next appointment on 09/19/06 to meet with the Nurse Dietician, Nurse Practioner, Psychologist and Physical Therapist.  But Legacy just told me that Great-West has a requirement that you have to be on a monitored diet with a Nurse Dietician for six (6) months before they will consider approving surgery!!!  This just didn't sound right so I called Great-West and some guy named Jason says they don't have that requirement and that all they need is a referral letter from doctor stating medical necessity.  I have the referral letter from my pulmonologist for my sleep apnea referring me.  Now I'm getting one from my primary since now I'm also on blood pressure medication since I swelled up like a balloon and my blood pressure was up from my norm.  This past appointment it was actually 138 / 70...not sure what that means... the higher number just went higher...but the lower number is back to what it normally is and this is with the pills.  Just hope the higher number doesn't get any higher.  Well as always...I'll update as time permits.

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08/26/06 - Here's some pictures of me today...gross!

08/28/06 312.4 lbs - I went in today for all my blood work and got a call this afternoon that the results were in.  I pick them up this Friday when I see my Primary Doctor.  He will also have a referral letter ready for me.  Today is two years that my loving mother passed away and went to join my dad, her sister (also best friend while on earth) and her own mom and dad (she hadn't seen them since like 1961 or something like that...whenever Castro - Cuba broker relations with USA, as her parents were living in Cuba then and they passed away in 1973).  Love you mami...miss you incredibly!  Te quiero!  I remember growing up...I would tell my mom I wanted to die before her.  She would say I was selfish because I didn't want to feel the pain of losing her.  I would tell her I just couldn't live without her.  I was VERY close to my mom...she was my BEST friend.  She would tell me as time goes on and you have your own children...things change...and she would assure me I would be able to live without her.  Well...her I am two years later...still breathing...still living and still missing my bestest friend.  I have my children to live for now!  And this is why I want to LOSE the weight.  But that doesn't change the love I had for my mom!  Ok...just had to express myself a little bit sitting here at the reception desk (I answer the phones for the lunch hour for a week, every couple of months...all the girls here do it so it's not just one person stuck doing it all the time.) at work with tears rolling down my face.  I'll finish it up...again hoping my mami knows how much I love her and miss her!!!! :(

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Here are some pictures of my beautiful mom!

08/31/06 - Ok...I meant to log in yesterday.  I'm starting to see all the crap people go through before they finally have surgery.  Before I start venting...I have to say that Jennifer at Legacy Good Samaritan Obesity Institute is GREAT!  She is very nice and seems understanding of ones situation and feelings.  On the other hand...when I got home on 08/29/06, I had a voice mail from the Psychologist's office.  The woman left me a message with such attitude that I thought...geez if the staff is like this...do I really want to see and speak with this doctor?  She said neither you nor your husband has met the $1,000 deductible each and therefore you will EACH owe $450 for your first visit.  Ok so I call Great-West yesterday...and come to find out she is not the brightest bulb, I'm in Oregon, the Psychologist's office is in Vancouver, Washington and (as we all know...you should never assume since it makes an @$$ out of you and NOT me) she failed to mention that to the insurance rep and that person assumed since we live in Oregon, the doctor must be in Oregon and since they couldn't find him on there contracted provider list...it would be the $1,000 deductible and then 60% covered there after.  So here I go...I find him on the provider list since I know he's in WA and I put the radius at 100 miles from home...duh...there he is so I confirm yes he is contract and it is covered with a $30 co-pay and the rest is covered at 100% of his contracted rate and I'm covered for up to 20 visits in a calendar year.  So then I have to call the Psychologist's office back and thank God the woman that left me the voice mail is out until next week so I speak with another woman "Denise" (very nice and helpful) and explained to her what happened and asked that she call and re-verify coverage.  She said she would and I asked her to please call me and confirm she verified what I told her.  When I got home last night...she had left a very pleasant message letting me know she had verify $30 co-pay and all was good.  But the funny thing is poor Jennifer at Legacy and I spoke back and forth during the whole thing, because Great-West was telling me (before I confirmed this doctor was on their list) that I could go to any of the ones on their list and that would be acceptable as part of their requirements for WLS.  I actually got a CSR or REP that was familiar with the WLS requirements this time.  She was also able to tell me that they do require you to be on a 6-month doctor monitored diet IF you are obese / overweight and have NO medical problems.  However, she said if you have been diagnosed with problems...then most times the 6 months is waived and you get approved.  Lets see...sleep apnea...hypertension, that brightened my day a bit...so now hopefully I'll get approved and get a date before the end of the year...makes the difference between getting it done in 2006 at less than $700 or getting it done in 2007 with an all new $500 deductible and $2,000 out of pocket...$2,500.  As for my husband...he has totally met his deductible and out of pocket at this point and his would cost us $0, nothing...zilch...nada if done in 2006 or $2,500 if done in 2007.  Gotta push for 2006 on both of us.  Well I think I have posted a mouthful today...so I'll be gone now and try to log on tomorrow after I see my Primary.  :)

09/01/06 - 305.2 lbs - All I can say is YIPPEE HORRAY!!!  I have officially lost 14.2lbs from 07/27/06 to 09/01/06 following the DASH diet the dietician recommended for high blood pressure.  Just the fact that I'm now eating 5 times a day instead of the 1 time a day I used to do has boosted my metabolism.  My Doctor's nurse asked me "you had the surgery right?" and I responded "NO, not yet" so she asked "Well then what are you doing?"  and I told her about the DASH diet.  You wonder sometimes why you see skinny people you know and it seems like they are always eating something, but yet they are skinny.  So I truly believe that eating every few hours throughout the day, making the right choices in foods...is how you can lose weight and later maintain it and this is something we all have to understand if we have had or really want to have WLS.  I have read alot of profiles where people are devasted that they have gained all their weight back... I don't want to be one of those people...I want this to be the LAST time I have to lose weight.  After this I WANT to keep it off and lead a healthy life.  This is why I'm making the changes NOW verses waiting until after the surgery.  I also believe you can eat what you want as long as it is in moderation.  If you completely deprive yourself, you have more chance of going crazy, losing control and eating everything around you.  You need to allow yourself a little pleasure...just in moderation.  My absolute favorite candy is almond rocha.  I never buy it because it's a bit pricey...but it was on special a few weeks ago so I allowed myself to buy a bag.  It says a serving is 3 pieces and that is 200 calories.  So I allow myself to eat 1 piece at around 67 calories... not bad and I really enjoy the one piece.  I saw my husband started dipping into the bag...I snapped at him and said "You don't need to eat 5 pieces to enjoy this.  Now you are going to gobble these up and when I want one...there won't be any left"  I don't want to fight over candy...but OMG...I just want it there for one of those times when I want a piece.  He has become completely a sugar junkie since he quite smoking last November.  I haven't really picked up any new vices since I quit smoking this past 
Valentine's Day.  But had did put on weight even though my eating habits had not changed.  Well anyways...my BMI went from 50.40 to 49.20 just because of the 5lbs I lost in the past two weeks.  Well I don't see my primary until 10/30/06, but hopefully by then I will have already had my surgery or at the very least I will have a date for it.  Better get going...don't know if I'll be logging much in for the next 2 weeks since I don't have my appointment for the EKG and MMPI test (think that's what it's called) until 09/15/06.  But I suppose if I have any feelings I need to put in words...I WILL BE BACK. :)

09/02/06 - My hubby took my son crabbing today.  They actually got up at like 4:30am and I didn't hear a complain come out of my sons mouth!  I've had the day as just us girls...my 2 year-old and me!  We went out and I got a french pedicure.  She was such a GOOD girl at the salon that I gave her a mini manicure & pedicure when we got home.  Her nails are pretty and pink.  Oh and the lady that did my pedicure was the bomb!  I warned her that my legs are very sensitive when it comes to the massage part of the pedicure and I can't handle the karate chop action.  She (in her vietnamese-english) mentioned bad circulation and ended up giving me the best massage I have had with a pedicure.  She's who I'm making sure I get from now on...even if I have to wait.  I just started getting myself a pedicure once a month back in July so this is my 3rd on a regular basis.  I figured...I quit smoking on Valentine's Day...I don't burn my money on the tabacco so why not spoil myself a little bit and make myself feel a little bit prettier.  Gotta say I do have cute feet so now with my little toe ring, my tribal tattoo on my ankle and my french pedicure...I feel PRETTY! lol...I know what a dork.  Ok if anybody has gotten this far in reading my profile...please believe me when I tell you I am not conceited or stuck on myself!  I have just seen some horrible looking feet in my day.  I remember back in 1992-1993 I when to beauty college and OMG, you couldn't refuse to do a service or the instructor could make you clock out and go home for the night...well this woman had the grossest feet, my own instructor refused to have any of us service the woman.  She recommended that the woman see a doctor...looked like she had major fungus going on.  Ok enough grossness.  Maybe I'll take a picture of my feetsies to add to the pictures on here....I just can't get over how they look with the french pedicure verses just regular paint.  Ok didn't mean to write this much...ttfn!

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09/03/06 - Here's some pictures of me today.

09/04/06 - I've decided I'm going to have my hubby take pictures of me every Sunday, front, side, back and one head shot.  I'm sure I'll be able to do a slide show at some point and see a difference within 3 - 6 months.  Well, I have the say off home with the kiddies...oh joy...an 8-year old and a 2-year old on the verge of 3 next month...boy do they fight and argue.  I'm sure that wouldn't be the case if the little one didn't have such a big volcabulary for her age...but she is really advanced so boy is it on!  Oh one last thing before I sign off...my hubby has been wanting a plasma tv... well...yesterday he got it.  We went to CompUSA and they had 36 months interest free...so we got a 42 inch plasma hd tv and the best part is it was a $1,600 tv and we got it for $824.  I couldn't tell my sweetie no on that one.

09/06/06 - My sister posted my first comment here today.  I'm so glad I have her support.  She's my big sister, one of my best friends and my 2nd mom.  We are almost 9 years apart so she got stuck taking care of me...I was her real life doll.  Lucky for her two beautiful daughters, I'm the one that got stuck with the pins when she changed my diapers...lol...I don't even know if disposables were around that long ago.  Anyways...today I did a little project I've been meaning to do since after the Easter weekend and that was scan some of my mom's pictures.  So I decided to upload them to my photobucket account and that's my mom if you go back up to my 08/28/06 entry.  Of course you all know that if you've gotten this far down on my journal.  Well I think that's all for now.  Nothing new on the weight loss journey other than Jennifer @ Legacy calling me today to let me know they got all my required labs and everything looks good.  So...8 1/2 more days until my EKG and my Psychological testing.  Praying I can push Legacy to send my packet to Great-West within few weeks.  I just want to make sure EVERYTHING is together in the packet.  DON'T want any delays for approval or whatever the next step will be after they receive the packet.  Write more next time I'm inspired.  Gotta run and cook up some colorful fajitas with this kick butt jalapeno jelly called MANGO MADNESS.  Very healthy, not too spicy...just a little kick with tons of red, yellow, orange and green bell peppers, onion and just a little meat.  I can do that now as far a little meat since I'm still pre-op.  I know once I'm on the other side...I need to get the protein in FIRST.  Ok...that's all folks.  TTFN

09/07/06 - Yeah...I had to reschedule my hubbys blood work, EKG and Psychological testing and was thinking...great...his appointment won't be until October...but WONDERFUL Jennifer and Legacy was able to move us from 09/15/06 to 09/14/06...so now it's only ONE week (yes folks 7 days) until our testing because she went ahead and moved us both up so we can go in together.  Nothing new other than that... ok...one more thing...tyring to keep my feet all pretty...I decided even if I get swollen...my footsies should still look pretty...so monthly pedicure a must...I deserve it... I'm not burning the money on cigaretts anymore (09/14/06 will be my 7 month anniversary - SMOKE FREE).  So anyways...I have been really working at getting my heals all smooth and soft and they are absolutely killing me.  Last night I lathered them up with petro jelly and booties because each one has a few cracks that don't look bad BUT hurt like hell.  I'll do it every night and see how it helps.  I know they got this bad because of all the EXCESS weight pressing down on my little feet.  That's all...till next time.

09/08/06 - 306lbs...ok what's up with that?  I did all my eating perfectly...maybe water retention.

09/10/06 - Just posting weekly pictures!
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Me today.

09/11/06 - No new updates other than I CUT all my hair off.  Here's a picture of my new hair-do.  Also posting some pictures of my handsome hubby and kids when hubby was in a tux.

Hum....something didn't go right...I got my hubby up with the tux, but this thing just won't let me get my picture up here...guess I'll try again tonight at home since now I my first picture up at the top of me and my son when he was a baby!  God I hate computers!

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09/13/06 - WOW! I can't believe tomorrow is almost here.  We go in tomorrow for our EKG and other stuff.  Hopefully time will go this fast and before I know it...we will each have a date.  Well, nothing really new to post, other than I found out I didn't actually lose stuff on my profile...the computer guy here at work apparently updated my zonealarm thing on my computer and my virus protection and now I can't see the individual pictures that I post on my profile...so dumb me thought..."OMG they are gone".  But I was told by a friend that the pictures are in fact on my page.  So go figure.  Update tomorrow night.  I just found a new toy...so made another widget of my mom and included a picture of her with my little girl.

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09/14/06 - 304.8lbs, had my first consult with the Obestity Institute.  Met Jennifer there...she's awesome.  My BMI is 49.3 according to this little machine they hook you up to and I burn 2,150 calories a day.  They did my EKG and I did the Psychological test.  That sure was interesting to say the least.  I'll update after our appointment on 09/19/06.  Called my sister-in-law tonight to say "Happy B-day".  My little girl was so cute trying to sing to her.

09/15/06 - Nothing new...went to work and was just dragging all day.  I can feel the time change coming on!

09/17/06 - Nothing really new...just wanted to share the e-mail I received from my niece "Stephanie" in California: 
"hey tia barbie
well i couldnt figure out how to write you somethin on your site but i just wanted to say how happy and proud of you i am for not smokin anymore and for taking this big step to get healthy, even though you might not think it but i consider you to still be young and hopefully this will increase the amount of years you have left to enjoy with your family. i love you and i will be praying for you and Will to get the surgery covered by your insurance and i will also keep you guys in my prayers so that you have a safe and successful surgery.  i miss you and i hope me and chris can plan a trip up there maybe during winter break if thats good for you. we could look for tickets now and if that doesnt work than maybe next summer or sumthin. okay tell everyone hello and i love and miss them!
-titi"

09/20/06 - Yesterday was my appointments with all physical therapist, nurse dietician, nurse practioner and Psychologist.  Everything went great...they all signed off for me to have surgery.  Psychologist said my test shows signs of depression and anxiety and suggested I start taking Lexapro.  He thinks it will help with all that will be going on...working full time, mom, wife and road to a healthier lifestyle.  Also have to take huge amounts of vitamin D as my levels are extremely low.  Other than that, they all said I'm doing great with what I'm doing with the Dash diet for hypertension.  They also noted EDEMA so now it's sleep apnea, hypertension and edema.  With all those...I think it shouldn't be a problem getting approved by the insurance company.  Oh and since I've been pretty good on the diet, I have less than 2 lbs left to lose to have met the 5% weight loss requirement!  Yeah!!!! My hubby still has about another 14.70 lbs to lose and he'll have met his 5%.  I think that's it for now.  Till next time :)

09/27/06 - It's been a week since I last posted.  I haven't felt much like posting, been feeling not to happy after speaking with the lady at the clinic last week.  She kept insisting our insurance company has a 6 month doc monitored diet requirement.  I finally spoke with the nurse at the insurance company that is assiged to our area and requested that she fax me the requirements.  I received those this Monday and although alot of the requirements are vague, it does pretty much suggest that as well as all the things that are supposed to be wrong with you to get approved.  The other thing was they require a 10% weight loss prior to surgery in lieu of the 5% the clinic requires.  So that means I have have lost almost 32 instead of almost 16.  That means I still have to lose another 18.  Life is just dandy.  At this rate, I won't need surgery.  Also I'm walking with the girls at work like the physical therapist wants me to.  I'm looking into buying some 10lb weights by the end of the week and am following my diet.  Except last night we went out to celebrate and had fajitas (I didn't over do it) and a piece of cake.  He got a promotion to General Manager....yippie!  I'm so proud of my hubby!  I got my little girl's fall pictures from daycare and they look way cute.  That's it for now.

09/29/06 - I'm proud to say I've been a really good girl.  I'm walking everyday with two other ladies at the office.  They walk at a speed of about 4 - 5 miles per hour and we have walked about 30 minutes each day which is what the physical therapist wants me to do.  But he wants me to walk 1 1/2 miles in 30 minutes.  I guess if I'm walking 2+, that shouldn't hurt.  Today we were out there almost 45 minutes, but stopped at a store for about 10 of those minutes.  I did my strengthening exercises last night and had my two kids wanting to get in the mix using the thera-band.  I guess a healthier lifestyle will benefit more than just myself.  Well I'm off to go eat my lunch.  Happy Friday to all.

10/04/06 - Yesterday was my hubby's 33rd birthday. Wish I could have gotten him something spectacular, but he is so spoiled he has everything just about he could want...leaving me with not much I could actually surprise him with.  Well other than that...nothing new...still being a good girl.  Just wanted to come on here and add this little creation of my kids pictures.  They have my heart!

02/06/07 - OMG...I can't believe I wandered off and haven't logged on in over 4 months.  Well here's the skinny on what is going on with me!  My husbands company made a few changes to the health insurance benefits...raised his premium, added a $250 deductible on prescriptions...and failed to mention that they no longer covered bariatrics...that they now had a WRITTEN EXCLUSION on it.  This is just unf--kingbelieveable!!! I was one month...I repeat...one month away from being referred over to the surgeon's office.  Well I've come way to far to give up now so I looked into other options and decided to refinance my house and get it down.  Since I'm a self pay now and I had met the surgeon's requirements...my file has already been referred over to him and I have my consultation appointment scheduled for 02/19/07 at 3pm!!!! That is the day I get to pick my DATE and I'm looking at picking a Friday in April.  So I'm getting closer.  On the downside...I gained 12lbs over the holidays so I'm back up to 316.lbs.  I figured it was my last holiday to eat what I want.  That kind of thinking must STOP!  I will try to make sure it isn't another 4 months before I log on again.

02/14/07 - Well...I gained 4lbs over the past two weeks after receiving the news that Great-West now had a written exclusion on our policy and then having to go through all the hoops and crap with my bank to do the 2nd mortgage on my house (they already had my 2nd...so it was just a refi) but they still made me go through hell before I finally signed all the paperwork this past Saturday.  I have my surgery scheduled for 03/30/07 and I do NOT have to go on a liquid protein diet for 3 weeks pre-op.  Surgeon just said to eat healthy and try to lose a little weight before surgery.  That's about all for now.  Till next time, hope everybody reading this has a GREAT VALENTINES DAY!!!!

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