I'm a slacker...

I haven't blogged in over 2 weeks. I have been lurking in the background just reading and not posting. I also found a few quilting blogs which I've been looking for and finally found. I have been working diligently on some quilting projects. The biggest one is a quilt for the "Squares of Hope" a group I belong to at church. We make and distribute quilts to those in need due to illness or family loss. They are prayed over by many of our members. It's very rewarding to know something you worked on is bringing someone comfort.



I am also cutting out a quilt for my hubby Bob that we bought in a kit at a quilt shop in Florence, Oregon several months ago. It's a fishing themed quilt. I hope it isn't too much for me. So far I am not having any problems with it.



I made some pillowcases out of flannel for our bed. I found a tutorial on YouTube and they are so easy and come out perfect. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrYWCma9wgM the tutorial is also for a cause but I only made a couple for us. They also would make great gifts. They are trying to get a million of these made and donated. I need to make some for the Million Pillowcase Challenge also. I didn't take pictures of them or I would post them.

So far I am doing well without my band being filled. My reflux has stopped and I only get heartburn at night. So I take a Zantac before bed and I am ok. I sure don't miss the reflux. I am watching that I don't eat too much. Since I was banded over 2 years ago I know how much my portions should be and I am following these. Now if only I would lay off the candy. I got some candy corn after Halloween at Walmart and I have been grabbing a handful while I am sewing. I need to throw them away since they are pure sugar. But I love them so. And they are only out once a year.

I still haven't gotten my quilting frame assembled. The room where it is to go has some boxes in it and about 40 books that were in a cabinet that we sold. Now I have no place to put the books. I am sorting them and keeping only some of them. I might sell the rest on Amazon.com as used books. Once I get the boxes and books moved my rack can go in there. It's a tiny room so there isn't much room to maneuver until I moved them out and right now I have no place to put them. If the garage wasn't so cold I would set it up out there but, no way. Well, I have to shower and take Chloe to the groomer and then it's off to the gym. Have a wonderful day everyone.

Well, today was my first full day without my fill. I am surprised, in that I am stopping and feeling full at the same place I have been for the last 8 months. I hope this lasts. Thank you everyone for your kind words and encouragement. That's why I am glad I am a blogger. Bloggers are great people!

I also started to quilt a table topper I made for Autumn. I had to get out the book to learn how to use the Bernina Stitch Regulator and a couple of other things on my machine. I had a class the week after I bought it but then I went on vacation and had family come to visit. The only thing I have been doing is piecing the tops which just involves straight stitching. I think I need a refresher course. Maybe I'll just sit and read the manual. I also got a DVD with it, maybe I'll watch that again too.

It was cold and damp out today. No rain and no sun all day. Ugh!! I hope this doesn't mean winter is almost here.

Not what I was hoping for.........

Well, today was the day I was to go for the test at the hospital. My doctor met me there and when I went in there were four people in the room. I stood on a tall machine and they slid an xray device to the front of me. Over to my right there was a television screen with a view of my esophagus. One of the technicians handed me a cup with a clear liquid in it. He said to take a big swallow of it. I took two. I looked to the side and could see the liquid roll down my throat and when it reached the bottom it pushed out to the side instead of going through my band. The doctor said, "oh no, that's what I was afraid of. You have a dilated esophagus. I need to remove all of the fill for 3 months" So there you have it. They put a pillow behind my head and laid the table back and before I knew it I was on my back. The doctor removed my fill and they stood me up again. Then they handed me the liquid again and had me drink it. This time it went right down. The doctor mentioned that he was surprised I was able to even eat. Now I know why it seemed like my food took forever to leave the pouch. It's because I had another larger pouch that it was being stored in. So the way I understand it is I had too much in the band and that is why this happened. Funny thing is a year and a half ago I had a similar problem and my band was even more filled then. So I have to be very careful over the holidays not to over do things and to keep on going to the gym so I don't undo all that I have accomplished so far. I am trying to keep a positive attitude over this whole thing. Maybe now I can sleep laying down again instead of having to prop pillows up behind me. I already feel better. I was getting little hiccups that would have liquid and food in them all the time. Since I went to the hospital that hasn't happened. I guess my doctor being a lapband patient himself knows what he's talking about. Thanks to all of you who made such nice comments on my last couple of posts. I love my blog buddies.

No fill this time......

Well, when I went to the doctor yesterday he went over my case with me and I told him I have to sleep with several pillows propped under my head and that I still have heartburn and reflux. He said, You need another barium swallow. We need to find out why this is happening to you. It isn't normal. I asked what they would do for it if it was a dilated esophagus and he said he would completely unfill me (again) for 3 to 6 months to let it heal. I am so unhappy about this. So I have to go back up there (Eugene-75 miles away) on Tuesday and have the test. I know if they can find out what is wrong I won't have to go through this anymore. But I just don't want to be unfilled again for 6 more months. I guess I have no choice at this point. It's a wait and see for me.

I got my quilt frame. It's in 3 boxes. One is really heavy. We have them in the garage until we rearrange the room it will go in. I have to go back there to pick up the instruction manual and some templates they have for me.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Yea!

The store called this morning to tell me my quilt frame is in. I am so excited. Now I just have to make room for it at home and also learn how to use it. Can't wait to start quilting on it. I have to go up there to Eugene today anyway for my appointment with the surgeon for my adjustment. We already drove up there this morning to take a friend's daughter to the airport at 4:45am. Then we had breakfast and came home. My hubby went back to bed. I snoozed for about 30 minutes and then the store called. This is going to be a great day. The picture is what it will look like with my machine in it.

Second Chances...

Got a call from the vet's office yesterday. They wanted to know if I had decided what I wanted to do with Sissy's remains yet. They said they couldn't hold her any longer. I was shocked!! I had already told them when I went in to pay the bill the morning she was euthanized. I asked them to take care of her. They had said they could have her cremated or I could take her and bury her. The cremation was $120. After paying the bill which was already $316 I decided I couldn't pay anymore. The next day I had all these weird feelings that I should have taken her and buried her here at our home. I was afraid it was too late. Now they called a week later to ask about it. I told them I'd be right in to get her. It was a strange feeling as I drove back to pick her up. When I got there they escorted me out to my car and handed me a box that was all taped up. I could feel the weight inside of my little darling kitty. When I got her home my hubby had already dug a hole in our back yard under a small tree. We placed the whole box in the hole and both of us covered it with the dirt. I felt better. She is home again where she belongs. I know her spirit or soul has already left her body but at least a part of her is here in her family's yard. I said a prayer over her little grave and came in to snuggle with my other two pets. I am sorry if this is a little morbid.

Tomorrow I have an appointment for a band adjustment. I have mixed feelings about it. I know I can eat too much now so I am not losing any weight but I worry that I will be too tight and have a problem again. The whole reason for getting the band is to have the control and that is why I decided to go for it. After all, I can always have some of the saline removed if I need to.

Loss of a pet...

This week we lost one of our kitties. Sissy, the one on the right became very sick last Saturday. I noticed her hanging around in the bathroom of all places. She was laying in front of the toilet. As I got ready for church on Sunday morning she was still there in front of the toilet. I noticed a small puddle on the bare floor next to the rug. I cleaned it up and knew I had to take her to the vet. Only they were closed on Sunday and we were on our way to church. When we got back from church she was still there in the bathroom. She did move around a little and she was wobbly on her back legs. I thought maybe she had been injured somehow. I couldn't imagine how since she was an indoor cat and there wasn't much inside that could injure her. As the day went on I recalled how early Saturday morning I found a leaf on the floor that one of the cats had chewed from a Chrysanthemum plant that my brother in law purchased for me a few days before. I got to thinking, maybe the plant is poisonous to cats. I can never have fresh flowers in the house without having to place them somewhere high up that the cats won't get into them. These were not up high. In fact my sister in law placed them on the floor next to the television for a splash of color. They were so pretty and instantly made the room look like fall. As soon as I got home from church I looked on Google to see if it could be the plant. There it was, high toxicity to cats. Oh, no. Monday morning I picked her up and she felt cold so I placed her on my lap to warm her. She stayed there for a long time (not like her at all) The Vet's office opens at 8am so I called them as soon as I could and they said to bring her right in. I did, when they took her temperature it was below normal and they placed a hot water bottle next to her. The doctor came in and looked her over. I told her I suspected it was the plant and she wasn't entirely convinced that was the cause of her illness. She was 12 years old and that is pretty old for a cat I guess. I thought they lived to be 20 or so. Anyway, she said that they would keep her and hydrate her through an I.V. and do a blood test. I left and about an hour later the doctor called and said her kidneys had shut down which wasn't good. She said why not keep her on the fluids and see if the kidneys started to work again. I agreed. First thing Tuesday morning I got another call from the vet's office. They said she was no better and that in all honesty if she hasn't responded by now, she most likely wouldn't.

Well, this isn't how I expected my week to start. So sad. We all are missing her little face. Molly, our other cat keeps looking in closets and around doorways for her. But I think she has stopped now. She seems to know she is gone and isn't looking anymore. We aren't going to get another cat to replace her. Needless to say, the chrysanthemum is outside now where it isn't a temptation to our other cat Molly.