Fall is Here

Well the first of the fall rains is here. It started yesterday but then the sun came out in the afternoon. It began again last night and it is supposed to continue through tomorrow. It is a welcome sight since it's been 3 or 4 months since we've had any rain here. I have been doing well and I've lost 51 pounds so far. I have had a rough week however since I seem to be tighter than I was and am having a bit of trouble eating certain foods. I did learn that when going out to eat I need to eat something easy like salad or soup rather than something that looks really good on the menu. Since I've only told a few people about my Lapband it makes it awkward when something gets stuck and I keep needing to leave the table. I read several blogs now and some I've read for a few years. I noticed that AOL is not going to have Journals anymore so I am glad I didn't start this blog on AOL. I just need to figure out how to add photos and such. I go to the doctor on the 14th for my 6 month checkup and I am hoping to be down a few more pounds than I already am. I am getting excited about cooking dishes for the cooler weather and I got a bag of apples from a friend so I might make some applesauce and can it. I also bought a really nice butternut squash and I am going to make some soup with it. I have never made that soup and I really like the taste of butternut squash soup so maybe I'll have a recipe to reuse. I also have an elderly neighbor (82) who loves soups and makes her own all the time so I can share it with her since my husband won't be eating any. He is a vegetable hater. We have a beautiful maple tree in the front of our house that turns bright orange and red in the fall. I will try and import a picture of it for this blog.

Sunday rain

Well, our heat wave is over. We had a nice thunder storm last night and it's still going on today. The thunder storms here in Oregon are gentle like the rain usually is. I was in Texas several years ago and there was a violent thunder storm. I was terrified. The storms here are occasional lightning and thunder and gentle rain. Anyway, yesterday a group from church was traveling to Grants Pass after church to have lunch at a restaurant. We almost didn't go because we have a dog and nobody to let her out to go potty. I called our wonderful neighbor and she said she would be happy to let our baby out every couple of hours. We went in a large van the church owns with 6 other couples. We knew only two couples in the van at the start of the trip. When we got home we knew them all. It was a fun, relaxing, laughter filled day. The food was marvelous at the restaurant we went to. In fact here is the link for it. www.riversedgerestaurant.net I had the fish and chips made with large chunks of halibut and home fried potatoes. I was only able to eat one piece of fish and two of the potato chips. I ate more of it for dinner. Very tasty indeed.

Summer Blues

Wow! I can't believe I started this blog and haven't even written since April. Well I have lost 42 pounds since this journey started. I had my 3rd fill last week and I think this one is doing me much better than the last 2. I eat less and don't get hungry within 2 or 3 hours. I should start dropping the pounds now. We've had company off and on for the last 3 months and now it's just us again. I miss all the commotion and comings and goings. I'm still trying to get everything cleaned and emptied out of the motorhome and get my house back in order too. We've been having a heat wave here this week. It's been 100 for 3 days. It is supposed to cool off starting tomorrow. Then we can do some outside stuff as well. We had a really nice deck added to the front of the house. My hubby is going to finish it off by putting in the ballesters and the skirting around the bottom. However, it's been so hot since we got home from our fishing trip and the Oregon Jamboree that we have just been vegging out watching the Olympics all week. I will have to take a picture of the deck and post it here.

Sorry I haven't posted

I haven't posted here since a week before my surgery. I had it on the 26th. I had a lot of pain in my shoulders and neck afterward. The nursing staff blamed it on the air they use to pump up the stomach area for the surgery. I tend to think it also has to do with maybe some tenderness in the stomach area nerves after the banding. Anyway, I am feeling much better now and I am looking forward to my post op appt this Thursday. Then I will know how I have done weightwise and I will be able to eat real food again and not just mushy stuff like yogurt, cottage cheese, cream of wheat, cream soups. I have eaten real food on a couple of occasions due to being out and about. I did fine with them. I also have been eating sugar free Jello and sugar free Jello pudding. I found their Dulce de Leche pudding and it is soooo yummy. I love it. I haven't taken a before picture so I will have to have Bob (My hubby)take one for me. Well, I will try to be better about my updates from here on.

5 Days and Counting

I went to my pre-op appt yesterday and met both the surgeon and the anestesiologist. They were both extremely personable. In fact everyone I met was very nice. I also met 2 other people having surgery the same day as I am.

One day til pre-op appt

I am keeping pretty busy moving stuff back where it belongs today. The painter is finished with the kitchen and living room. They look awesome. Now he is busy in the dining room. Wish the rain would stop and the sun would come out. We have had rain for the last week and a half. Boo Hoo. I am a sunshine girl. Lived in Southern California all my life until 5 years ago and the winters here in Oregon are hard to get used to. The only thing that makes it all worthwhile is that when the sun does come out it is gorgeous.
I am doing liquids this week and last. I am trying to lose weight around the liver. The doctor said it makes the surgery easier for him and for me in the longrun. Drinking 5 Carnation Instant Breakfasts (sugar free kind) a day plus a 300 calorie frozen dinner with at least 15 grams of protein. I savor every bite of the dinners. Also I am allowed to have one protein bar containing no more than 200 calories and at least 10 grams of protein. It averages out to 1250 calories and 65 grams of protein.

First entry

I am going to journal my experience with weight loss after being banded next week. I hope to have many success stories to tell and hopefully not too many bumps in the road. I am spending much time on the computer today because we are having the house painted and I am in the computer room with the dog and 2 cats so they aren't under foot. It is cold in here and it's raining outside. I have an appointment on Thursday with my surgeon for the pre-op testing. I also with meet with the anesthesiologist. This is not the best time to be having this surgery I am afraid because we are in the process of doing lots of reconstruction on our house. It just worked out that way and wasn't planned. We still have to recarpet which is going to be a nightmare since we have a full house and need to move stuff around to get the carpet laid. Anyway, when all is said and done the house will look great. And, hopefully so will I.