jilldennis

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I simply cannot believe that I have now been on this journey for 10 years!!! ~ Ten short years ago, an amazing man by the name of Dr. Amir Moazzez saved my life!!!I know that if not for him I would not be here today (I have been told this by several doctors...)  

It has not always been an easy journey...and I have not kept all of the weight off for the whole 10-years...but...I can say that when I weighed myself Sunday morning I weighed 130.1 pounds (10-pounds under my original goal!!).  I work hard for the most part, because of many medical problems, I cannot exercise ~ so I really have to watch what I eat.

I have not kept up with OH like I wanted and I will try to add some more recent pictures in a bit.  We really need to get our old group back together for a reunion or something!  I miss you all!!

{{{BIG HUGS!!!}}}

Jill

I cannot believe today has been 7 years since Dr. Amir Moazzez helped me to change my life FOREVER!!! i will be eternally grateful to him for the rest of my life!!  Since that day, I have several things happen where I KNOW that I would not be here writing this today, if I had not had my life changing gastric bypass surgery!!

The road has not always been easy, but knowing everything that I know now would I do it all over again?  YOU BET!!!  I would recommend this surgery to anyone who has done their research and is ready to change every single aspect of their life - forever!

Thank you so much to my "Mother Cluckers"  Betsy (aka Mabel), JoAnn, Natalie, Shannon, Dianna, Holly!!  I love you all so much!!  We need to have another Mother Clucker week-end!! 

Hugs!
Jill
(aka Maxine)

I can't believe it's been over year since I have posted on here.  Life has gotten so busy!  Whoever would have thought!

Just a quick re-cap...we now have another new grandson....for a total of 3 granddaughters and e grandsons now!  

We went to Thailand twice last year and maybe going again at the end of August...just playing with the numbers right now...  I am going on another missions trip with our senior high youth group gust 1 -from church to Cuenca, Ecuador: August 1 - 10.  Please pray that my back will get better by then...I know God can do it!!!

Update on all of that stuff...(the continued saga of surgeries post motorcycle accident)
January 2008: Knee Surgery: Scope - Nothing else they can do (or will do) until I am old enough for knee replacement.
May 2008: Lowe Back Surgery: Corrected and splinted L4, L5 and S1.
November 2008: Planned corrective foot surgery...not a big deal...however...3 days later...I woke up from a nap and could not move my shoulder or neck....long story shortened to spare all the dramatics,,,
November 2008: Major surgery this time on my cervical spine (C2-4 fusion).

May 2009: Started epidural pain management for lower back....something didn't work right - had to go in for another type of epidural procerure to repair what didn't work right on the first one...The problem is after this "fix" you have to be in bed flat on your back "not propped or sitting up or reclining" for a week...UGH!...and to think I still have two more of these to go and my back still hurts just as much as it did before!

On a brighter note...kind of a chuckle!!!  My oldest son just got married up in Niagara Falls on May 9th.  Most of friends don't know who I am, etc...at the reception one of his friends came up to me and said hey do you remember blah blah blah when we were at blah blah blah?  I said no.  My son came up about that time and his friend said yea remember we took that bottle of rum from your mom and dad's house?  I said, oh really?  Steven said, DUDE!  THIS IS MY MOM!!!  His friend said OMG, I thought you were Erin (my daughter)!!  He made my evening because my daughter is 23 years old.  I'll take goof ups like those any day!!!

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/vsg/a,messageboard/board_id,5463/cat_id,5063/topic_id,3587094/action,replies/page,1/
I don't know if this will get deleted or not - but I just had to share this with those who might not ever get a chance to read it.  It just amazes me.  I am ticked...but not surprised...since it already happened to me and several others!!!

Please spread the word - this will be the only way this person can stop treating people the way she does.  It is very obvious that she doesn't care about people...only the almight dollar!  Greed is awful.

I'm not going to preach or even go anywhere near there.  I told Jon I was only going to be a minute but ended up staying down here and reading the entire link above.  I am also going to try and post it on my website.  I think I know how to do it - but not sure.

Feel fre to send your friends here or to my website: www.bumblebeecottage.net

Oh - and by the way Jackie - and the entire OH Team who did the conference in ASHBURN on Saturday - MANY KUDOS!!!!!  I was glad we came up for the afternoon!  You all did a great job!!!  We can't wait to go to the next one!!
Hugs~*~Jill

I had my #5 knee surgery yesterday...and it did not go as planned!!  YEAH!!!  The doctor thought he was going to have to replace my ACL again and stabilize my knee for a meniscus transplant...however...once he got in he found that the ACL (that had been replaced 5 years ago) was okay and was able to be repaired...and I don't remember what he said about the shape of the meniscus...I just know now I don't have to be on crutches for 8 weeks again...now it's only a week!  That works for me!!!  The bad news is - there is significant arthritis in there...and he wants to start some new drug injection (a series of injections starting next week).  My dad said he thought it was probably the same thing he had before his knee replacement.  Jon said he discussed knee replacement with him and he said in his opinion I was too young...and we would discuss my options when I came in for my follow-up.  

Anyway...one day at a time...and right now - I am only on crutches for a week!!  This means I may be able to go to New Orleans with out crutches - maybe just a cane!  Woooohooooooo

Remember to always look for good in everything - and remember to thank God for even the little things!
Hugs,
Jill

Everytime I look at his beautiful, perfect little face I am just amazed.  He is so beautiful...I hope that I can be everything for him that God wants me to be.  I can tell already it's going to be hard being so far away from him...  I probably won't get to see him again until April when my daughter's baby is born.  I will just have to rely on the internet and get all of his sweet little kisses I can get right now.

Here are more pictures uploaded to the snapfish account and my photos...
http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=208056827/a=82441290_82441290/fromupload=true/t_=82441290

http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=208056827/a=82441290_82441290/t_=82441290
Here is the link to some of the first pictures I took this morning.
Skyler Andrew Aydelotte was born this morning at 8:58am in Niagara Falls, New York.  He weighed 7 pounds and 6 ounces and was 20 inches long.

Everyone is healthy and tired!  We are going back over to the hospital later this afternoon after everyone has time for a nap.

We (myself, Erin and TJ) are off to Niagara Falls, NY in the morning.  My oldest son Steven and his wife Danielle are having their first baby together (she has a 2 year old-Danny).  She has to have a c-section on Monday morning @ 7am...so by 8am we should have our first "real" grandson.  His name is going to be Skyler Andrew.  I can't wait to see him!!

I will be sure to update with pictures as soon as I get home...maybe even sooner if I can figure out how to do it on the road.

I went to Kohl's today and bought myself three new pairs of leggings and some boot socks to stay warm.  I have been freezing here at the house - so I can only imagine how cold it's going to be up there.

Also, please keep my Aunt Kay in your prayers.  She has leukemia and is in her 60's.  They can't give her any more chemo treatments right now - because they don't think she would survive them.  She was supposed to have a bone marrow transplant by the beginning of February.  She also just lost her husband (Duane) on December 23.  He had been battling cancer for over a year.

I know this year is going to be better!!  I hope everyone is having a great beginning to an awesome new year!

I was going to go upstairs...and watch tv...but I'm still here....
My friend Karen sent me an e-mail about people who have made a difference in our lives...not celebrities...just everyday people...who cross our paths either physically or by e-mail...It went on to thank them and pray for them when you see them...just a little thanks to God for putting them in your life...because you know they are there for reason...

Here is my list.
My Husband: Jon
My Children: Steven, Joey, Erin, TJ, Tara, Jennifer, David
My Grandchildren: Eva Marie, Maddison and Abbigail and soon to be born Grandchildren: Skyler Andrew and "Baby Z" in April 2008
My Parents: Larry and Judy
My Sister: Jacqui
My Sisters @ FBC: Karen, Karen, Kathleen, Kathleen, Jackie, Laura, Sandy, Diane, April, Mary, Rachel, Ginny
My H.O.G. Sisters: Jennifer, Kathy, Vicki, Bonnie and Debbie
My OH Family: There are sooooo many of you...I hate to leave someone out...but...Natalie, JoAnn, Betsy, Holly, Nannette, Courtney, April, Kim...You guys are such an inspiration!!...I love you guys!!
MY SURGEON: Dr. Amir Moazzez!!!
Our adopted little girl through World Vision: Salim Neema.  She is so beautiful...I am so humbled that God has put in our lives to pray for her everyday!

I am also thankful for the second chance God gave me.  I pray everyday I won't let Him down!
Well...so long until next year!!!I'm going to go and watch "the ball drop" in Times Square or wherever...

Happy Healthy New Year!!!

Here's to another year of being alive and healthy!!!

I am so greatful that God has put so many awesome people in my life.
He has given me so many things to be thankful for...some things little - some things big!  Some things I can mention...some things I can't.

Now that I have lost over 170 pounds I can...
1. See my first grandson being born in Niagara Falls on January 7, 2008!
2. See my second grandson being born in April 2008.
3. See my youngest son graduate from high school (God willing) - in 2013! - UGH - that sounds like a long way away!!!
4. Love my husband anywhere...anytime...(it's great since we've both had RNY!!!)
5. Ride my motorcycle with out my thighs hanging over and hitting the saddle bags!
6. Walk to the mailbox to get the mail
7. Walk with our dog Bo - in the field
8. Dance with my "girlfriends"!!!
9. Fly on an airplane and not use the "extender"
10. Shop in the "petite" section
11. Smile when some one says I'm tiny (I still look to see who they are talking too!)
12. Start Post-Op Year #2 - with no more doctor prescribed medicines!
13. I'm not afraid to have my picture taken anymore...
14. I have more energy to help others
15. I am eternally greatful to this board and the friends and family that I have met here.

Well - it's almost a new year...one more hour...I was supposed to be down here working on MK inventory...oh well...I can do that tomorrow after our Polar Bear ride with our Harley Owners Group.  Hopefully I will remember to take the camera!

Many hugs and happy, healthy blessings to you all and your families!  We hope we get to meet some or all of you at the Conference in Richmond in January!!

Jon & Jill