Thank You

To all of you that joined me over the past few weeks before I embarked on my Opti Fast journey. I don't think it was possible but by the end of it all I thought I could got out for another meal!   For those of you that are curious my last supper was a festival special. YUM!

So I started my Opti this morning and I am trying to make the best of a bad situation. The stuff tastes awful. I tried it this morning using some suggestions I was given at BWLSSG by adding vanilla extract to some of it, nope; added cinnamon to some, nope; and one last attempt with ice at lunchtime. Definitely not.  So I have decided that I am going to just put the loose powder in my mouth and wash it down with water. I mentioned this to Nash and she hopes it doesn't react like dry cinnamon in the mouth. I guess I will see when I take my last opti of the day just before bed.

I made a mistake thinking that it was a complete meal replacer and waited 4 hours before eating again. This put me out of sorts for a few hours until I got some chicken broth in me. So I think by chugging the drink and then eating the foods allowed I should be okay.

That brings me to my shift tonight....we were super busy earlier which kept me going but now it is quiet and this when I get a bite to eat.  I just want to munch on some chunks of cheese or cheese sticks.  So to occupy myself you get to read about my whining lol.

I will let you guys know how the dry opti goes down later (becuase I know you can't wait to find out! )

T Minus 10 days....

Until I start Opti.

The more my friends hear about the more they want to get together.  Regrettably I had a "farwell to food" tour. It wasn't intentional but I do feel the love lol.

There are some Christmas parties coming up that I will need to prepare for so I am hoping people enjoy my company more that what I  eating.  I see a lot of French onion soup in my future.

I feel that I am getting all my ducks in a row for surgery. As odd as it sounds I am getting excited to start opti since it the second to last step before surgery. the DH has been helping me plan for the surgery since he good a logistics. We decided to have Grandma S come over to take care of Nikki on the Monday since she will be a basket case while I am in surgery and she will be trying to find me in the waiting room.

I did start a PT job and I was stressing out since the offered me the job and they didn't know about my surgery. So I placed all the cards on the table and thought for.sure.they would retract my letter of offer but they were quite content the cover me while I am off.

The DH and I hit Wonderland one last time for Halloween Haunt (go on the rides late at night and spooky mazes etc) and was really concerned at one point. With the weather being cold I wore my down filled winser coat and mittens so my overall size was a little fuller than normal. Well we went on the Fly and we have to wear a seatbelt plus a lap bar. The seats are snug at the best of times so I sit in  the front and the DH sits in the back.  I wrestled with the belt and panic set in since I couldn't do it up. The guy came over and looked at me wrestling with it and said "you might not be able to do it up since this is a kids ride."  That made more determined to get it on.so I lifted up my jacket and buckled it up. I am sure that I am reading more into it but I was really feeling that I was becoming too fat.

I did get a text from Mrs.Henry asking about "plus sized" rides so I gave her a list of ones that I could/couldn't do and she took the list to heart. I understand that she had issues and I am sure we will have a lot to discuss when we get together next.

Other than that I am getting nervous about Miss Mel passing the Royal on Sunday so please keep your fingers crossed that she does well.

Just about there!

I know it has been a bit of time since my last post but not much really has gone on to update you on until now..........

I have been going on interviews to the point the Edge has enough reference calls that she figures I should have had something by now. She also believes that I will find a payroll career in the healthcare industry. She was able to peg DoxyLovers new payroll position before she got it. So who knows what the universe has in store.

Nash is still at the house and the DH and I were able to get her a second job where we are and she is loving it so far and enjoys the extra cash.

The house warming was a blast and there weren't any pictures taken which I am fine with.  I think that I am at my highest weight and really didn't want to see myself. It was great to see friends and watch the 6 degrees of seperation around the yard lol.

I haven't been to BBWLSG in a while since they meet at a busy coffee place for the meetings. Now they are back at Sunshineherders I will most likely start going again.

Now for the exciting bit........I have a surgery date of December the first! I will need to be on a skake for 2 weeks before my surgery date so if you have any dinner dates you want me to come partake of, it will need to be before November the 14th.

The process of introducing food back into my stomach will be a 8 week process so Christmas and my birthday will be most likely at home and made with a magic bullet lol So I am embracing my 2 Thanksgivings this weekend and next.  I decided not to the "food farwell tour" that others have done in the past. I don't want to look at the 2 weeks of shakes as a chore or resent them, but as a stepping stone of this process.

So I am sure that there are posts to follow soon with food cravings and my trials with the shakes.

Everything is settled

I do believe that the house is finally in a state of order that it is a home.  We are having a garage sale tomorrow that will let me clear out the last of the clutter that is hanging around.  Don't worry I won't have a price tag on the dogs or the DH LOL

Nash has made herself at home here and I think that I have taken on a maternal instinct with her.  I felt like I should have washed her bed linens yesterday when I washed ours and then I figured that there are boundaries set and the reason she moved out was to become independent.  So I said no to myself and thought she can was her own linens.  I talked to Susanne about this and she mentioned that Nash has become more of an extended family than tenant.  I just need to remind myself that she is 26 not 12.

NavyWife and Mr.NavyWife have moved away to Pickering.  For those of you that are wondering where that is, that is an hour on the eastern side of Toronto.  I really miss having her close since she was a jaunt and call away. It was nothing to make a quick call and we were at a restaurant an hour later.  I guess I will have to make more of an effort to make it a half day away to see her and the pup.  Mr. NavyWife is off on his boat for the next year so I am sure she would appreciate the visits.

We took some holidays to Rockford IL (an hour outside of Chicago) for the 2014 International Conference.  We needed to go since we were hosting the Hospitality Suite for the 2015 Conference.  We had various foods and drinks through out the weekend that kept people coming back to the room.  At one point on Saturday we had almost everyone in the room that there was only one couple on the dance floor and a table of about 5 people at the dance!  That makes for a great party LOL  I did meet up with DenverU that has had the sleeve done in the US.  I was sitting back and observed him and how folks were mentioning his weight loss. He really didn't mention what he had done, and was simply taking the compliments in stride.  DJ even mentioned that he was tossed in the wash and shrunk.  I like that and will think that I will use it!

Speaking of the surgery, I have completed the initial leg work for the round table of discussions.  This is to see if I am mentally and physically able to handle the surgery itself as well as the after care that will arise.  Well I got the call and I am able to meet my surgeon Dr. Rotstein on September the 26th at 9 a.m.! I have talked with Susanne about a fear that I have going into surgery.  I haven't had surgery before so dental work is the closest thing I have to compare it to and whenever I have any dental work done and something happens the first thing I do is make expressions with my eyes.  So I do understand that they will tape my eyes closed for the surgery and I am afraid that if I am not completely out and I feel something that I am not going to be able to do anything with my eyes.  So Susanne suggested that I mention this to my surgeon and see what he has to say about it.  I mentioned this to the DH this morning and he said the there is no way that I am going to feel anything and I will be fast asleep.  He also mentioned that I will count down from a hundred and not even hit 95 and then I will be waking up.  I hope he is right.

So I am still looking for work and I have been on various interviews but nothing has cropped up.  Until then, I will keep plugging away at life.

Fortune Cookie

"look under your bed and what you have lost will be found"  Hmmmmmm

That could be a few things. My Dean Koontz collection? My organizational skills for the middle room? My ability to hang something straight on the wall?  Pictures that haven't seen the light of day in 10 years? Who knows.

The move has been great and it has been 4 weeks and I have to admit that the house is getting more organised as the days go by.  There have been quite a few things bought for the house that I will most likely enjoy ranging from a huge sectional in the "rec room" downstairs to the little Swiffer vacuum that I bought to keep all the puppy tumbleweed at bay.  Dark floor plus a Miss Mel Mel requires constant work.

I was glad for all the help we got for the day of the move.  My mom, NavyWife, Mr NavyWife, Maine, her kids, PizzaGuy, Grandma, Nash, and FerFord all stopped in to help. Big thanks from the DH and I really appreciate it!

We were able to get a bunch more done than expected and even Maine and PizzaGuy came back on Sunday with the kids to help out.  We had them all over earlier in the day since their AC is on the blink and it was way too hot to have them melting while we were just watching t.v.

The girls are loving the yard and there are times it is trying to get then back in when we are out there in the afternoon.  We have a fire bowl now with a permit so our Canada Day was spent with Maine, her kids, PizzaGuy, Aircoolin', Corrie Fan and their little one.  We had a fire with marshmallows and have talked about getting together again cook a whole meal over the fire.

Work is still eluding me but I have been on some interviews and there have been a couple that have emailed me or called me back before the date of the interview stating that there are allergies in the office.  Now don't get all defensive on my behalf, because if they were there first there isn't much I can do.  There is no discrimination that can be claimed or any HR policies that have been broken. So I am going to complete my EI reports and keep searching while working on the house.

The stuff for surgery is going along great as well.  I have been able to get cancelled appointments since I have been off.  I have had the Nutritionist appointments, I have met with the Psychologist and she has given me information to take back to Dr. Sarah to changed my meds up.  I was little concerned about decreasing my happy pills to almost nothing but after talking with Susanne and Dr. Sarah we have it all fixed up again.  I am able to stay on the Happy pills after surgery since I am going to sprinkle them in my food morning and night.

Ran into MommaHenry at Wal-Mart and we were able to chat for a bit.  We are talking about having a girly day at Wonderland with Jensen so we will see if this comes around.  But I do know that I am going this weekend with the DH and Nash and I think this is the first "outing" we have had that didn't involve the house LOL

Mel is working on her "issues" with bangs and the compressors from the bowling alley.  According to my trainer, Mel is to sit and wait out the stress until she lies down.  In the meantime we act like nothing is going on.  She had that test all morning at the Milton Market when we were at the St. John Ambulance booth. The tent beside us were using helium for balloons and they also had a few pop.  When it came to the 4 hour mark she had enough and was trying to get under the table to hide.  I guess we all have our limits.  Below is her and Cookie strutting their Therapy Dog stuff at the Market and I will post again soon.

I know, I know.......

It has been quite a while since my last post but I had every intentions to write a post and then something would happen.  At that point I would think "I guess I will add that to my next post" and it all just snowballed.  So be prepared for a long post today!

Well work has sucked.  I was walked out under "restructuring" and I can officially say my card was marked. The DoO was replacing the office with temps after someone left and it the were starting with the more senior ones first.  Kind of first in, first out.  So I have been applying to various jobs within my field for the last month with about 5 interviews at Temp Agencies since that seems to be the way employers are going to these days. So once I get something permanent again I am sure you all will hear about it.

Being off has caused Nikki to go a bit stir crazy.  She is used to being out and expelling her energy through out the day, even though I still post pics of her sleeping every once in a while LOL  So her and I have made a deal that if we aren't going out for an appointment we are taking a walk around the block so she can be goofy and Melodie can still see the light of day.  I am also getting a bit of a leg stretch from sitting at the computer in the morning looking for a job.

Now before you get worried about the house, we were able to get it sold and our great mortgage broker was able to use the existing paperwork to get the money we needed for a new house.  So our current place sold for over asking and the new place is still within our budget.  The DH is getting excited for the new house since he has been able to buy a lawn mower for grass we now have to mow ourselves.  He has also drawn up plans for a new shed to hold all the stuff that is in our existing garage.  The girls have taken to the new place too since they have already made friends with Charlie next door.

So with me being off I have been able to start packing the rest of the house, albeit it is slowly, but I figure next week I will realise the sense of urgency when it rolls over to June the 1st.  We get the keys to the new place on June the 20th and the new owners of the current place move in on June the 27th. Can you believe that we are already getting their post?  I can understand that if the house was empty to get mail sent here, but we still live here for another 3 weeks!

Melodie is doing great on her training, and I contacted the trainer to ask when she wanted to give Mel her last evaluation.  Last year we went to an event that was is the south central part of Toronto.  This year the event was earlier and on the far east side of Toronto.  With one of the major highways under construction I wasn't up to trucking across the city on side streets.  So we agreed that we are off to an Agricultural Fair for their Rodeo Day in November.  Keep your finger crossed!

Things with my surgery had me concerned for a bit in May.  I was to be scheduled for May the 28th for the Nurse's appointment but while I was meeting the Social Worker I was able to get it bumped to May the 7th.  Sweet!  Not so much.  Because of the construction on the highway that I was unaware of, I was 16 minutes late getting there.  Well they have a cut off of 15 minutes grace and then you get rescheduled to August.  I cried right in the middle of the waiting room because with the delay in this appointment my timeline if "Thanksgiving" now had been bumped to "Christmas" and was told that I can keep my rescheduled appointment and I can be put on a "cancellation list."  I agreed to that and figured I would be person #221 on the list and the chances of getting a call before August were none existent.  Boy was I wrong!  I got a called from the office on Thursday June 15th and there was a cancellation for a 1:15 appointment on May the 21st.  I was floored and you could have knocked me over with a feather!  So I left the house at 11:30 am to get down there and I was there early enough to have a sandwich in the food court before my appointment.  I was seen by the nurse as well as a nurse in training and passed with flying colours.  On the way out they asked me if I had to time to get some blood work done too so that I wouldn't have to come back another day.  Sure I can kill 2 birds with one stone.  In the meantime I got the next set of appointments and I have the 2 1/2 hour nutrition class next week on June the 3rd!  They also gave me my last 2 appointments before I meet the surgeon but the told me to check in for cancellations when I go for my nutrition course next week.

I am still going to the BWLSSG and I am still the only one there that is pre-surgery.  The meeting (more like get togethers) some folks gave me various protein shakes to try.  Picante gave me the chocolate premier protein shake to try and I have to admit it didn't go down that well.  Now SandyD gave me 2 flavours of her brand to try and I haven't had a chance since I have packed away the magic bullet LOL  So I guess I will be venturing to the local nutrition house in the mall to see if they have samples.  I would prefer the kind that are premixed so that I am not spending my mornings mixing and measuring powders.  There are guidelines that I will need to follow so I am looking at various ones when I come across them.

The last BWLSSG was in a public place since HeardingInTheSunshine (I think I might have to rethink the name on that one.....perhaps SunshineHerder) is having her place renovated.  My disassociation got pretty bad since it was in a public place near a street corner and everyone was trying to talk over traffic.  I suggested that we should take a camper chair and just hang out in SunshineHerder's back yard next month.  I think some of the group enjoyed the coffee that we were having too.  So I will see what the group decides for the next get together and I will make precautions to curb my disassociation.

Speaking of my disassociation, I have found a store that has really done me in more than Walmart.  BestBuy.  The DH and went in there to get something for the television and I figure that with all the large screen televisions playing something, the music and just trying to navigate through it all I was really overwhelmed.  I actually left the store with Nikki and headed to the truck to recover.

Mom is doing really well, she has moved to 4 hours away with round-about-step-sister and her hubby.  So she gave up her factory job with my cousin-in-law to do so and she has had interviews in her town to get her self set up again.  She is coming down tomorrow for her birthday and she is catching up with my brother and his girlfriend before heading back.

So I think that has you all caught up on what is going on around here so since I have been told that the pictures are the highlights to my posts I leave you with one:

Not Sure

What to call this post since there is a lot of little stuff to make up the post.

BWLSSG has been going really well.  I am learning a lot of stuff from Tim, Marvin and HerderintheSunshine.  HerderintheSunshine had to go back into the hospital since she couldn't keep food down again.  At least this time she is able get water down so they figured that her stomach didn't close over from before.  This time it was a blockage.  The cause of the blockage?  Romaine lettuce from a caesar salad.  That made me inquire how big the opening of the stomach was and I found out that it is the diameter of a dime.  That made the most sense on what Tim advised of "chew 40 times then chew 20 more."  I now realise that the body doesn't lose weight from the head down, you are just burning muscles from all that chewing! LOL

The house hasn't sold yet.  As I type this we are on Day 12.  We have had 2 open houses that were busy but not takers yet.  The agent wants to have a 3rd open house the weekend coming.  The house on the main street that was selling less than ours sold for asking price.  #25 with the different layout hasn't been sold but they are on the market the same amount of days as we have been.  We have had a new contender crop up on the street at #3.  They have the layout on 2 floors but their kitchen and living room are switched compared to ours.  They have updated it and are asking a substantial amount more too.  So I guess it is a waiting game.

We have been out of the house more times than in and I was actually happy to cook supper and so laundry last week!   I would like to take a personal thank you to Mister NavyWife and NavyWife since I sent them a sob text asking if they were busy.  They happily to invited me and the girls over so that their dog could have a good run.  I am hoping that there aren't any viewings before the open house next week because we had an offer and also so that we don't have to impose on them again at the Dew Drop Inn.