Knitten Kittens

Back, Thanks and More to Come

Kim — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:30:54 GMT

Holy crap, they added a font color picker....but I'm too tired to figure it out.

It was an exhausting, exhilerating, sometimes frightening yet amazing week, that I am still processing. I am terribly sleep deprived and looking forward to a full eight hours in my own bed, instead of on an air mattress on the floor in a room with other people that I didn't know. Sharing with our own kids and leaders was wonderful, but I can do without people that don't know how to take me. This is the first time I have seen a computer, a television or a newspaper in nearly a week and for the most part, I didn't even miss them.

Thanks to my wonderful guest bloggers. Laura, I LOVED the pictures! I don't even remember any of them being taken as it seemed like a kabillion years ago!

I'll start relating the details of the mission trip tomorrow, once I am rested and in the meantime, I hope everyone had a great 4th of July!

Monassen (Mon Valley) YouthWorks crew the week of June 29th-July 4th.

Guest Blogger The Brit

Kim — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:54:01 GMT

Well good news everyone........

The fish are still swimming, the cats are well fed and the guinea pig is still living... My jobs on the list (does that suprise you that I had a list) are complete

Now the next big question is should I attempt to Vacumn, could be going to dangerous terrority I think.

I also have one last journey I am thinking of attempting. Laundry..........

Should I go there? Is it safe? Am I going to end up with this foaming mass of bubbles filling the basement? I took a look at the machine and all those dials and buttons, they frighten this tech guy I can tell ya.

I know dirty clothes go to the basement and noise happens and then clean and dry clothes come up. Sometimes they appear while I am watching TV and this fresh clean smell drifts past me as the clothes are being folded by my gorgeous loving wife (can you tell I am missing her).

Well wish me well on this adventure. No doubt Kim will let you all know how well I did or didn't do.

Now where is the laudry liquid kept...Jeez this stuff is hard.

Have a happy and fun filled 4th...

PS. Any chance we can have the country back LOL

Guest Blogger Kelly

Kim — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:00:00 GMT

The Cost of Being Ill

Had planned for something a little more interesting, but then I succumbed to illness and kept thinking I can’t afford to be sick! My original thought was I couldn’t afford the lost time of being sick, but then I started thinking about the actual cost and figured this for my run of the mill sinus infection:

Copayment at the doctor’s                           $15.00

Antibiotic                                                       $15.00

Mucinex – Generic form                                 $9.99

Nasal Spray (so I can breath again!)            $3.99

Vapor Rub – Generic form                             $3.99

Head On Headache Relief                            $4.99

Tissues                                                        $3.99

Premium chicken soup for a couple of days   $5.00

$61.95 for a freakin’ sinus infection! And that’s with good insurance and a decent pharmacy plan! To heck with the time, I literally can’t afford to be sick!   Really makes me wonder how those without insurance manage.

On an upside – USA Network has been running “Law and Order” marathons the past couple of days and I actually managed to wake up long enough to watch one I’ve never seen before!

I promise next time I guest blog (provided I’m asked) I’ll make a little more interesting and maybe include some photos. For now congestion and icky tissues are all I know.

Wishing you all a sinus-infection free summer!

Guest Blogger Laura

Kim — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:00:00 GMT

Hello all - again!!!   But this time instead of updates....I get to do my very own blog!!!

For starters, Kim & I met back when we were in high school. It may be hard to believe but psycho mom (PM as Kim affectionately calls her here) introduced us (the one good thing to come out of that nutty friendship) and we discovered that our dads worked together at the post office (small world, huh?). We ended up going to church together as well.

My ambition back then was to marry Adam Ant (Kim & I did see him in concert) and Kim was going to marry a man with a British accent < only one of us achieved our goal - wonder who it was...... >. Anyway, another thing Kim and I did together was work at Burger King and we each moved our way up the ladder to be Production Leaders. Now at the Burger King we worked at a Production Leader was what they called you when they wanted you to be a Shift Manager at a regular employee salary (yeah, we were that dumb)...at most other Burger King's it meant you could train new employees.

So, as I forewarned Kim on several different occasions, I have dug out some old Burger King photos to share.

But first I want to share our Senior Pictures with you:


     Me, of course to the left (Class of '82) and Kim to the right (Class of '84).

And now, for Burger King.....

To the left is our Store Manager, Mary and the right is the Asst. Manager Betty Jean.

The next few (as were the above two) were taken at one of the Christmas Parties:

Kim, very shy and then after the booze hit her (okay not really-we weren't allowed to drink at these things).


     Sharing the holiday spirit with Jimmy and Matt (I think Matt was his name).




                                        Kim very hard at work!


Always well liked by the crew...with Candy in the first and Teresa & Candy in the second.


This photo was taken at the Christmas Party also...the lady standing is Kim's (and mine) friend Robyn (who y'all have heard her talking about)....and speaking of Robyn, when she became the right age...she came to work at Burger King as well:


Robyn (left) with Deena singing.....we worked at Burger King back in the days when you called the orders over the microphone...so after closing, when we were cleaning, we'd sing over the microphones with the radio!!!

Since I was behind the camera, there were no photos of me...however, I did find this one of me and Jimmy at the same Christmas Party:



From looking at this photo and my senior picture...I am very happy to say that I now have an excellent hair stylist - God Bless Him!!!

And in case you were wondering which one of us achieved our goal....well, let's just say I'm not married to Adam Ant.

Guest Blogger, Kim

Kim — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:00:00 GMT

Hi all! This is the "other Kim" taking over for a day while Kim is on her mission trip. I pray that everything is going well for her on the trip, and that when she returns we'll read some great stories.

I am forced to realize in thinking about what Kim is experiencing this week-that my idea of roughing it is basically a two star hotel. I guess to some degree, I am a princess of sorts, because I don't like being without my modern conveniences on a daily basis. So I am in awe of what Kim and the students from her church are doing.

I'm not a stranger to helping people, but getting completely outside of my comfort zone has never been something that I have been able to do. Being a fellow weight loss surgery patient, I'm learning to do a few things that challenge my comfort zone, but nothing this big so far. My challenges have mainly been isolated to going to parties and functions that I typically wouldn't attend. Which I know seems lame, but for someone who has grown up being a wall flower, it's a big step!

I have a cousin that was an African missionary, and signed up for ten year trip...and while I know that mission work of that kind is not in my future, I hope that someday I'll be able to do something smaller. Even in my own community, God's love needs to be shown and shared with others, and I'd love to have the courage to do just that one day. I am thankful that when I do step out there to spread his word, he will fill my mouth with just the right words to do the most good for his kingdom.

Again, my only hope is that one day I will be able to step completely outside of my own world to show someone living in completely different surrounding what God's love is really like. Until that time, I am thankful to Him for providing others that are able to do just that in my place. I think it's a special gift that Kim gives the students that she works with as well: lessons in faith and love that will last a lifetime. Kim truly is one of my heroes!

And We're Off

Kim — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 08:00:00 GMT

I'm writing Sunday's entry early, mostly so I can check to make sure this Timestamp really works before we take off today. As of Saturday at 3:19pm, I am nearly packed, the hair has been cut, the nails have been done and made short, and my gallon thermos is nearly full of iced tea. Sunday morning, I have ice and some lunch meat to buy (I don't think I will be participating in taco night on Tuesday and fried meat and I already had one go 'round that didn't end well on my part). I picked up a few healthy snacks and am taking some fruit along as well. I think I have a plan.

Be safe in my absence, dear readers. Prayers are always welcome: that our work in this community we are journeying to will make a difference to the people living there and that they will witness a little bit of Jesus working through us. Pray for the teens to be living examples of the love of Christ and to have serving hearts in the week to come. Pray that our drive to and from Pennsylvania be a safe one for us and for all those around us. Pray for the people in this community, that they know the promises that come from the risen Savior, and that though God never said that this life would be easy, he did say that we would never journey it alone. Pray that they are able to see his blessings on their lives in gifts of family and friends and though they may not have many material things, that they have been given the greatest gift of all.

I'll "see" all of you on Friday.

All my Bags are Packed

Kim — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 19:18:19 GMT

..I'm ready to go...I'm standing here outside your door...I hate to wake you up to say goodbye.

Sorry. Had a little John Denver moment there. I loved him. Cried when he died and even went to a memorial service for him near Gaithersburg. No one else that I know of does that amazing "earthy" music and I adored it.

Anyway. I am pretty much packed and good to go. I have even already blogged tomorrow's entry and have it scheduled to post at 8:00 am, just so I can make sure the Timestamp thing works as Kim and Kelly's entries are both set up on it. I'm sure it works actually...what I'm not sure of is if I did it right!

Today was pretty low key, other than getting my nails and hair done and running into my old roomie and his boyfriend, whom I have not seen in close to two years. It was nice to catch up briefly, even if it was at my hair place!

Beth, one of the girls who works there, came back to where Kristy was just getting started on my nails and said, "Kim! Your old buddy is here!" As I looked confused, she continued, "Mike! Your X-roomie!"

"Cool! Ask him to come back!"

Beth looked completely indignant, "No, you come out here! You need to stand up to see him! You look fabulous!"

She is so sweet and funny. I've known these girls for years as I've been getting my hair done there forever. It's always a good time when I go in there as they are all so funny.

Okay, that's it for tonight! I still have some things to do in preparation for tomorrow!

Gotta Cut Loose

Kim — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:58:24 GMT

So tonight we went to see "Footloose" at Smithsburg High school with Paula and John. It was an alumni show, so Kirk was in it as well as Katie (two of my youth kids) and both of them were amazing as always. I ran into two of my old theater friends there as well, Jeff and Suanne and I was thrilled to see them. Suanne is trying to plan a reunion as there are several of us in the area but many of us don't get to see each other. I'm totally looking forward to seeing everyone again!

I've started packing as there is no sense putting away clean laundry just to pull it out tomorrow evening to pack it. There are still things I worry about forgetting such as makeup, the camera and the paperwork for YouthWorks, but hopefully, I will keep my head firmly attached to me and remember.

And I have a new favorite thing. Can we say Shelley's tortilla pizza?? Pizza has always been one of my favorite foods and I had been sorely missing it and have been meaning to try this tortilla pizza thing. OMG! YUM! Totally satisfies the pizza craving!

Your guest bloggers for next week are as follows:
Monday: Kim H
Tuesday: Laura
Wednesday: Kelly
Thursday: The Brit

I hope y'all give them some bloggy loving in my absence for doing me this huge favor and honor!

Paying it Forward

Kim — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:08:16 GMT

Still loving the new car.

What I also love is being able to return the favors that were done for me as a pre-op byseveral post-ops. Celia and Christine I know personally and they answered so many of my questions early on as I began to explore the possibility of WLS. Then there were my girly peeps, Kim, Lacy and Meg, the brave ladies who went before me...right before me really as they only had their surgeries a few months before mine. I was able to read all about how they were doing in play-by-plays on their blogs, which helped to prepare me and answer so many of my questions. There was also Alison, who though she doesn't blog as regularly, took the time to email me answers to my questions and to check in on me often.

So, from what I understand, several weeks ago, when I went into my mom's TOPS group to share my WLS story, apparently they put something in the paper weekly about their meeting and what the topic is. This is how I have come to know Ellen. Ellen contacted one of the TOPS members, (my mother's cousin) because she had been unable to make the meeting but wanted to talk to me as she was interested in having the surgery. After a few weeks of phone tag, we finally got hooked up over the phone last Sunday and we talked for an hour. Like so many others had done for me, I was able to answer some of Ellen's questions and at her request, told her my entire RNY story from beginning to end. She is now completely convinced that she wants the surgery, and like me a year ago, is starting the six month structured diet process. I like Ellen very much and am very happy to be able to return the favor that so many did for me.

Though I have said before that I would not recommend this surgery to anyone, I am also more than happy to support anyone who wants to have it. The reason I would not recommend it simply because it is a personal decision and not for everyone. It would never be in my place to pressure anyone to have it, whether I think someone would benefit from it or not.

So the mission trip is now really close and I am rather excited! I love this kind of stuff; road trips and youth and helping people and letting them see Jesus working in my life. It was an amazing experience last year and the final factor in my deciding to have surgery. I have no doubt that this year will be even more amazing.

The End of the Car Saga

Kim — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:49:30 GMT

Tonight we went to see the guy we have bought about our last six cars from. He is not working at the same place as last time and though we stopped by to see him last night before we went to Kia, he wasn't working. Tonight he was and we drove one of these. Actually, we more than drove it. It is currently sitting in front of my house. Teehee. I liked it very much and there is something to be said about working with Tim. It's always fun and he always gets us the best deal he can. We did really well tonight and I am both happy and relieved that the car shopping is over.

Not much else went down today and it is late and we just got home (buying a car takes about three hours apparently) and I still have a buttload of pills to take. Ya'll give guest blogger Kelly some love because she has been really under the weather! Hopefully she will be feeling better by tomorrow!

Oh and this makes me smile:

more cat pictures

Fireflies, pouches and cars, oh my!

Kim — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:57:29 GMT

I decided tonight that Fireflies are proof that God exists. I mean, bugs are all well and good (actually,I hate bugs) but I think in many ways, they are sort of the same. Most of them are pesky to humans (or at least to me) and I don't really find any of them pretty. Yeah, they have their uses or at least a lot of them do and I know that God had a plan for them when He created them. But then I picture God smiling as he decides to put a tiny light inside of one of them. No one else would have thought of that! God has an incredible imagination, I think.

My pouch has been a little bit grumpy since last night and this is the first real disagreement we've had. The Brit and I got sushi last night....sweet pleasure! I had not had sushi since the weekend before my surgery and it was GOOD. Now, I could only eat two pieces at first and it went down okay but as much as I wanted that third piece, I knew it was not a good idea. So I waited an hour or two and had another piece and that apparently pissed off my pouch. I didn't dump, but my stomach kind of hurt for about fifteen minutes after eating it. Then right before bed, I had one last piece and again, the stomach ache! Today, I had soup and a half a sandwich for lunch with friends at Uno's. Of course, by the time I finished most of my soup and my half sandwich arrived, I was full, so I had like one bite of it and took the rest home, where I nibbled at it for the rest of the day. Again with the cranky pouch! Now, I'm wondering if maybe it is the carbs. The sushi had rice and where I usually take a sandwich apart and eat the meat and cheese from the middle, I was so craving a bit of bread. Carbs may be the culprit.

And lastly, in preparation for the mission trip, I took my car in today for an oil change and when I went back to pick it up, the mechanic went over a whole laundry list of things my car needed: the brakes are starting to go, the belts, some other big thing is going to need about $1600 worth of work eventually, new tires, blah, blah, blah. My small SUV is a 2001 and I bought it used. It has been a fabulous little car, but we start to look at the miles on it, etc and have to wonder if it is just time to trade it in as opposed to having to spend all this out of pocket money. I think the car manufacturers work this out as my car is nearly paid off, so it is time for stuff to go wrong with it.

When we were in Florida, we rented one of these for the week and I loved it. Now, I am not someone who wants to buy a new car as I think they are overrated. A good used car suits me perfectly, so we went to the Kia dealership tonight and they had just gotten a used one in, so we are pondering it. I may be taking a whole 'nother car on the mission trip

Preparing

Kim — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:33:33 GMT

Thank you to all of you who left comments yesterday. They mean more than you know, especially in light of the fear I felt posting them!

Today has been busy. Cleaning, gardening, laundry, but I am still amazed with the amount of energy I have to get it all done in one day! It's actually kind of fun and very satisfying to DO things! I did them before, but it took a lot longer and not as much got done in one day.

I'm also starting my preparations to go on the mission trip on Sunday. I have inventoried all my toiletries and seem to have all I need there. I just finished hosing down the cooler and of course tomorrow my oil and tires get done. Wednesday or Thursday, I'll hit the car wash. Saturday, my hair and nails get done. The hair has got to be easy as no curling irons or blow dryers are permitted, so a pic and a bottle of hair mousse are all I get! It'll be fine. The more weight I lose, the shorter my hair is getting anyway as I want something that requires minimal fussing, but that is still cute and perky.

Those of you who volunteered to blog for me next week will be getting an email tonight so we can get the schedule going. Of all things, this is my deepest fear, so how crazy is that?? But I'm halfway through the year and haven't missed a blogging day yet! I know y'all will be fabulous!

And oh! There is actually going to be a WLS support group in my town starting in July! How exciting is that???

2 Months Post Op

Kim — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 10:30:46 GMT

Lisa told me a few weeks ago that she thought I was brave and I disagreed. Today, I am feeling brave....and stupid.

One of the best things about the internet is the anonymity of it. We can imagine what other people look like and we can allow them to imagine what we look like. There is no need to post photos because they are simply irrelevant to the internet unless you are looking to find the love of your life and then photos may become a necessity, but even then, you can lie or photoshop the pictures to make yourself look better, all the while promising yourself that by the time you meet your internet date, dammit, you WILL look like that!

One of the things I promised myself when I began to blog this WLS journey is that I would be absolutely honest...for me today, painfully so. Yes, I can totally see the difference in myself in my Before and After photos, but to look at them, to post them here is really scary for me. It's admitting with no further doubt in anyone's mind that I had and have a serious weight problem that is in the process of being corrected. What was left to your imaginations is about to be real and I can't help but feel a little bit apprehensive about putting myself out there like that, but a promise is a promise, even if I made it to myself. I guess I still don't really consider it brave because there was no way I was putting up a Before photo without having a somewhat better After to follow it.

My Before pictures were taken the day before my surgery.

April 14, 2008

April 14, 2008

Seeing them here really makes me nervous. Notice the lack of a neck and we won't even discuss the rest. There were many times when I would dress to go out or to church and think I looked good; normal even. Wow, was that not the case.

The new ones were taken today, just over two months post op:

June 22, 2008

June 22, 2008

By golly, the girl does have a neck...and arms that need a whole lot of work. Total loss to date: 45 pounds.

Quiet Saturday with a picnic

Kim — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 22:03:26 GMT

I could probably have things to talk about tonight if it weren't so late and if I didn't have to get up for church tomorrow. But it is and I do, so there won't be much tonight.

I am feeling so much better. Still coughing but my energy is back thankfully. Today, I went to Lisa's for a picnic for Relay for Life, for which I did nothing for this year due to surgeries, but it was nice to go and spend time with her and Kelly and Robyn. Lisa is looking FANTABULOUS by the way! OMG! She is telling me she still have thirty pounds to go, but I think she is lying! She looks so freaking skinny now!

She did give me a bag of clothes which is awesome. I don't know if any of them fit me yet, but they will and OH! The shorts I was complaining about? Wore them today I did and they looked good! What a difference even two weeks can make! So, I am officially down a size! Exciting I tell you! I felt so good, I even used my new Beijo bag that Kelly gave me pre-op!

But yes, my protein still sucks.

Not much

Kim — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:21:35 GMT

Two month post-op pics are coming soon, I promise. I took two "Before" pics the day before surgery, but I keep forgetting to have The Brit take new ones when I am actually dressed in something appropriate for photo taking. I meant to have him take them last Sunday after church, but then we decided to go to the lake and I forgot. So, I am shooting for this Sunday again. Brit, remind me! So,when you're doing the "After" photos, do you wear the same thing as you wore in the "Before" photos? It was cooler out then and I had on jeans that are pretty big on me now.

I'm feeling better today. Still coughing, but all in all feeling a wee bit more like myself, so now I'm sending my feeling better vibes Kim's way!

Nothing major is really happening at the moment. The mission trip is in just over a week and I think I have almost everything I need with the exception of some food items in the event they are serving something for dinner I shouldn't have. Taco night is a concern for me because of the fried up beef obviously, so I want to put some lunch meat in the fridge to have instead. I'll also take some protein bars and I already have case of bottled water in my car. Next week, I'll have the car cleaned out and I get my oil changed and tires rotated on Tuesday. Isn't this all thrilling information? I told you nothing much was going on!

Death be not Proud

Kim — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:23:51 GMT

So yesterday when I said I thought I was turning a corner? Yeah, well, the cold took a wrong turn and went down...right into my chest, so now instead of just battling snot, I have coughing as well...dry, hacking, ribs aching coughing. Sucks. I also ran out of Breathe Right strips last night which meant no sleep. As I am still on the CPAP (and so counting the days till I can kick that thing goodbye), if I can't breathe, I can't sleep. I'm really, really ready to feel better and you all are probably really, really ready to hear me quit whining about feeling lousy. I thought about calling my PCP but I'm not running a fever which means it isn't an infection, right? And if it isn't an infection, then they won't give me antibiotics, right?

Someone said something kind of odd to me the other day. We were discussing my surgery and The Brit's surgery and this person said, "You know, it's going to be really weird for us too, because we know you as you are now and you're going to completely shrink."

This kind of bothered me and has been bothering me since it was said. If you "know" someone, I don't think that has much to do with what they look like outside. So though my outside will change, I will still be me albeit a little more confident and comfortable in my own skin. But why should that be "Weird" for anyone else? That's kind of like saying if a friend of mine gets a new haircut or a new hair color then that will be weird for me. I don't get the "weird" part at all and it is somehow something I've feared a little bit as I never want people to start treating me differently (unless you've always been really mean to me and then you can be nice ). I am still who I've always been, only 44 pounds lighter so far.

And speaking of 44 pounds lighter, and while I'm complaining anyway, can I just say that I have still not dropped a pants size?? Oh, my stuff is looser, no doubt, but still no size change, which I find rather annoying as I just bought a few pairs of shorts a size down that were way on sale (like $5 on sale) and though I can get in them, they are in no way attractive yet. I wanted them for the mission trip, but it isn't looking good....

Slightly Less Blah

Kim — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:22:10 GMT

I say this tentatively, but I think I might be turning a corner with the whole summer cold business...at least one can hope. I am certainly ready to take the corner and start feeling more like myself and less like the walking dead.

I have another wish. To meet in person, my long time internet friend, Andrea.

Andie and I met several years ago on a fandom board and hit it off instantly. We spent some time writing together but more importantly, we spent many nights on AIM just chatting for hours. It was an instant friendship and we helped each other through some rough times. A few years ago, we drifted apart a bit, but I never stopped thinking about her and trying to decide if I should contact her. It's hard sometimes over the computer to know what people are thinking and I didn't want to come across as too needy.

I'm not sure how it happened, but we did get in contact again and we both admitted the number of times we had thought about contacting the other. Now, though we don't speak daily, between kids and husbands, we are still very much in touch and every time I chat with her I am reminded of how much I genuinely like this person.

So, wish #5 is to meet Andrea one day.

I went through this site today and printed out a bunch of recipes to try in the near future. I tried one last night out of that cookbook I mentioned and though The Brit and the kids loved it, it made me gag. Too much parsley or something but blech. I'm trying really hard to be open to new things but I couldn't manage more than a bite, so yesterday was another day of sucking on the protein, though I did manage most of a protein shake last night. Who would have thought that protein was such hard work! I keep hoping the further out I get, the easier eating will be, but at just over two months out, so far it is still difficult.

Cack

Kim — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:17:34 GMT

I'm still feeling like pond scum.

The worst thing about being sick in the summer is that the kids are home, so there is no time to actually REST, because I have to be there to break up the bickering and to make sure my oldest isn't doing stuff he isn't supposed to do. I don't know what it is about this kid. He is as bright as a spark; an honor roll student, and during the school year, he does really well in all aspects of life. I'm thinking that due to his ADHD and the structure that goes with school, that is the reason he does so well. Cuz, lemme tell ya, as soon as summer hits...BAM! He is in trouble and doing things he KNOWS he is not supposed to do. Idle hands and all that I suppose.

I let him get to me a little while ago, which I have been managing not to do. I've been trying really hard to parent without negative emotions, but when I'm sick and feeling rotten, it all goes down the tubes. No, I didn't yell, but what I should have done was just state the facts and then be done with it. But sick makes me feel lousy and frustrated and when all I want to do is curl up someplace and sleep until I feel better but knowing I can't do that, doesn't help. I admit to having a much shorter fuse though when not feeling well, so at some point tonight, I will get to sleep (still have to cook dinner and then off to Aaron's therapy) and then after that, maybe I can reassess.

The other part about being sick is that I have no desire to eat. Food holds little interest for me right now anyway, but add sick to the picture and it gets even worse. Needless to say, my food intake the last two days has sucked the big whompus, people (yeah, I way don't know what a whompus is, but it sounded good in the sentence). 60 grams of protein? No even close. My hair should be falling out shortly, but at least that is one less thing I'll have to deal with.

Can you tell I'm in a mood?

Sick

Kim — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:21:31 GMT

I either have a cold or a sinus issue, so I'm not hanging around. Can't take a nap because I have a child who apparently waits for me to turn my back to break rules at the moment. Blah. Full day tomorrow too, work with a meeting, grocery store, cook dinner, therapy with Aaron at 7:30. Brilliant.

Busy Day

Kim — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 20:26:25 GMT

Today our new pastor was installed! There's the first bit of news.

The Brit, who is now down 36 pounds, and Sandy messing around after church.

After church, in honor of Father's Day, we took the kids and went here:

I don't know any of those people by the way,but they refused to move for the photo

It was way busy, being a holiday, but we had a good time. JJ, when he wasn't in the water, was working on a major building project:

Aaron never really came out of the water much at all:

My kids are pretty much fish! When we first got them, they were scared to death of the water, but now, I can't keep them out of it!

In regards to WLS, I am constantly amazed now by how much energy I have, even though I still have a LONG ways to go in the weight loss catagory. But I find myself much more energetic with my kids, taking them out to do things like swimming or little day trips like today. I'm constantly amazed by how GOOD I feel (at least until I see a picture of myself...ugh! But one day, that too, will get better) and the things I get accomplished now. And I can do those things without having to take a bunch of breaks and this is just after 42 pounds!

Would I do surgery over again? Yup. In a heartbeat.