5.4!!!

Band News:

Ah...back on track and feelin' GREAT!!!

Today marked the end of my 3-month Aetna diet and the last weigh in with the bariatric specialist.  Results?  I lost 5.4 pounds since last month's weigh in!  I think that is a spectacular recovery from the previous month's 1.2 pound gain.  This brings me to 9.5 pounds lost so far this year--all sans band. I have my 1st appointment with the surgeon in 2 weeks.  As I've mentioned in previous posts, I'm hoping that I will have surgery by the end of the month.  Fingers crossed!

Non-Band News:

• Mom is recovering nicely from the heart attack.  Her endurance is way up and she is now able to walk (albeit very slowly) for 30 minutes at a time.  For comparison--right after the heart attack a <5 minute walk would necessitate a 4-hour nap.  She's been getting out of the house and is in great spirits!  She and my dad are requiring enormous amounts of help.  Luckily, I quit my job a few months ago and have plenty of time to chip in during the week and my sister has been helping on the weekends.
  
• We are adopting Murphy!  You may remember him as the cute little Welsh Terrier whose picture was posted a few weeks ago.  We are meeting with the Rescue Coordinator to fill out all the paperwork for the adoption on Thursday.  Murphy has lost 4 pounds since we first got him and only has a couple more to go.  He's looking mighty slim and handsome these days.
  
• Darrell (The Husband) and I are skipping Easter and going camping this weekend.  He's taking Mon & Tue off so we will have a 4-day weekend.  My sister and her partner are letting us borrow their tow-behind camper.  WooHoo!  

another new toy...

Say hello to the Husqvarna Emerald 203.  

They were having a sale and this was just too good to pass up.

sewing (not band related)...

I am so excited!

You may or may not know that I recently had the opportunity to quit my job and become a full-time homemaker.  I love to do all (er...most) things domestic--cooking, gardening, home improvement, etc.  I love to make from scratch things that most people buy from a store--yogurt, cheese, flour, granola.  I would love to have a couple of chickens and a cow to get fresh eggs & milk, but I live in the suburbs and it is not allowed.  As you can see, most of the things that I know how to make from scratch are things you do in the kitchen.  Alas, I don't know how to sew.

So, I signed up for sewing class.  I had my first class yesterday and I am hooked!  Our first project was to make this cute little bag.

Officially, it's called a "cosmetic" bag.  But, I'm using mine to keep all of my sewing stuff for class (scissors, pins, pin cushion, bobbin, thread).  Next week, we'll learn how to make pajama bottoms.

Now, I just need to buy a sewing machine.  Anybody out there have experience sewing?  Do you have any recommendations for sewing machines?  Which features are important and which one's are just fluff?  Is a self-threading needle really worth the extra $$$?  What about the one's with 1-step button holes?  I have been looking at a Husqvarna or a Brother Innovis (don't know the exact model numbers right off hand).  I've been told that Singer isn't as great as it used to be.  I welcome any and all opinions.

Cheers!

got my letter...

Not *that* letter (but, it got your attention didn't it).  Yesterday I picked up my letter of recommendation from my PCP.  Wow!  If I had any doubts about this procedure before, I'm 100% sure of it now.  That letter makes it sound like I'm in danger of dropping dead tomorrow!

Since everyone's doctor/surgeon/insurance requirements are different, I'll explain.  My surgeon's office requires a letter from my PCP that details the reasons why I need the surgery--things like BMI, how long I've been overweight, co-morbidities, etc.  It must also state that I am "medically cleared" to have the surgery and that she (or he, if your PCP is male) thinks I would benefit from the procedure.  Luckily, my PCP was very supportive when I mentioned the surgery to her.  She even went so far as to say that she was "thrilled" I was open to the idea.  She mentioned that so many of her patients would benefit from something like this, but would never consider it because of a perceived "social stigma."

Anywhoozle (ala Amy)--things are falling into place.  I have a little over 2 weeks left for my Aetna mandated 3-month pre-surgery "regimen" (diet, nutritionist counseling, psych. assessment).  I have all of the paperwork collected for my surgeon's office and the insurance company:

1. Chart of weight history & BMI for 2008, 2009 & 2010 (2-years required)
2. Supporting documents--copies from medical charts showing weights from Dr. visits (1 per year for 2008, 2009 & 2010)
3. Chart showing diet history--what I've tried and resulting loss/gains
4. Letter from PCP
5. Letter of psychological clearance
6. Documentation for 3-month physician supervised diet (my bariatric specialist gives me a copy of her chart notes each month)
7. Documentation of nutritionist consultations (my nutritionist is in the same office as the bariatric specialist...she makes her notes on the same sheet)

My first appointment with the surgeon got delayed by a week--I'll go on April 14.  I don't know what the timeline will be between that appointment and surgery.  I know there will be the dreaded waiting for approval from Aetna (I'm not worried, though--I meet all the requirements and have all of my documentation in order).  During that waiting period, I will have to meet with the nutritionist at least one more time and do what I think will be a 10-day liquid diet. Oy!--so close...yet, so far!

my new toy...

Darrell & I paid off the house llast month, so we're "splurging" this month.  I've had my eye on a Vita Mix for a couple of years, but we were being frugal.  I know this will come in handy post-band when I'm on liquids and mushies.  What's incredible about this machine is that you can actually make hot soup!--it's that powerful.

You can find out more (and even watch some demonstration videos) at www.vitamix.com.

sunshine & rain...

I just found out that I have been nominated as a Sunshine Blogger.  Wow!  As irony would have it, it may take me a few days to fulfill my commitments to the award.  My mother suffered a heart attack last Friday night and, as you can imagine, I've been a bit busy.

She is doing great considering the circumstances and has maintained such a positive attitude through the whole thing--no "poor pitiful me" stuff for her.  I could learn a few things from her when it comes to being a patient.

We were able to bring her home yesterday and she was thrilled to be able to sleep in her own bed and sit in her own recliner. She mentioned that even walking down the hallway to her bedroom was exciting after being stuck in a hospital bed for 5 days.

Please know that, although I may not comment as much these days, I am reading and celebrating each and every one of your victories!  I hope to be able to share some of my own, soon.

Cheers!
Lynda

it's all downhill from here...

It's been a week since my doctor's weigh-in and my 1.5 lb gain.  It's been a good week!  I fell like I'm finally back on track with my eating plan (I refuse to call it a diet) and my scale rewarded me with a 1 lb. loss.  Woot! Woot!

At this point, there's not really a whole lot of band related stuff going on--just eating (or not), exercising, and waiting.

In non-band news...Murphy (our foster dog) ate part of a wooden spoon.  For those who don't have dogs, eating a wooden spoon is NOT GOOD.  There are potential complications with splinters and/or puncturing and blocking the intestines.  Luckily, we got him to the emergency vet in time and the spoon was still in his stomach.  6 hours, 1 emergency endoscopy and $1200 later--Murphy is home and doing just fine.  Luckily, the rescue organization covered the bill.

We still want to adopt him--are we crazy in the head?  On the other hand, how could anybody resist this...