Rain, Rain, Go Away....

Well, we did get out for a few hours this morning..  The temps are in the 70's and it was an absolutely beautiful morning!  I say "was" because we're back to the hellacious wind and rain..  Good for the ducks, not so much for me.  I am sooo over the "April Showers" and am really anxious to get out and golf..  The Ski Club is hosting our golf outing for MS in three short weeks and I haven't hit one drive yet this year!  I've been the women's long drive winner the past two years - and I want the spa prize again!!  I may have to go to the range regardless of the weather.. 

I WANT - make that, "need" - the spa package prize!!  

I haven't heard anything from the bariatric office yet and will give them until tomorrow before I call to see what is going to happen next.  Yah...  you can say I'm a little anxious!  "Patience" has never been one of my virtues...  One question I have..  How do you all manage to "sip" so much water in a day without gulping??   This waiting period that I've had to endure has taught me to change several habits that have been ingrained in me for a lifetime.  A huge positive in my book..   I've been doing really well cutting up all my food into tiny morsels, and even my chewing has gotten so much better - resulting in my eating much less at meal time - but how do I learn to SIP???  Can you say "beer chug"??

Oh well..  I hear the GrandAngel stirring and I really need to hop in the shower before all the games begin again!  Do enjoy your day and remember to smile!!  It keeps folks guessing.................

If April Showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?? 

Wait for it.....

...PILGRIMS!

Until Next Time!

The Adventure That "Was"....

Ok, everybody clap your hands and join me in the Dora the Explorer song "We did it!"  All of my hoops have been officially jumped through, and my medical record is in the tiny little hands of the insurance guru at the Bariatric office!  It's taken me exactly ten months and twenty eight days from initially approaching my Primary Care Physician about the possibility of bariatric surgery to finally being through the entire check-list of insurance hoops!  I'm not quite sure what happens now though.  All I know is that the file is being "prepared"...  I'll keep you posted!  Pictures and measurements haven't been taken yet - I know, I know...  I promise I will do it!  I may not post the pics initially, but you have my word, I will take measurements and photos...  Actually, I need to go to the store and pick up a measuring tape.  I know there is one around here somewhere, but where....  

I posted this picture on a post I'd written on August 18, 2010, called, " 'Hoops' It's not a game, but an adventure!"  You can read the post HERE.  In the post I mentioned the word "Hope" - it's what has gotten me through this adventure!  Know that I received all of my hope and support from my family - which includes all of YOU!  Thank you for helping to get me through this long and arduous part of the journey!  Now, we say a prayer, cross our fingers, get out the four leaf clovers, and everything else it may take to see this adventure to its end - to a healthier "Rest of My Life"!

Photo added to the
"Hoops" post!

On the home front, everything seems to finally be quieting down..  We're through Holy Week and I can finally take a breather and catch up on my all important blog reading!  I've done a good deal of reading throughout the week on the trusty Ipad, but it isn't quite the same..  I have too hard of a time leaving comments!  We've got our GrandAngel for a few days so I hope the rain finally ends and we can go outside!  Grammy needs a fresh air workout...

       ...and a martini - filthy, extra olives!

Until Next Time!

So Now What?

Hey, hey!  The Seder went really well, although in true Western Pennsylvania fashion, everyone came wearing a Pittsburgh Penguins shirt...  Please tell me we were the only Passover Seder/Penguin dinner event that was going on..  I pulled out some Lemieux paraphernalia and other Penguin stuff I could find and decorated the living room, but the Seder meal was off-limits to all things Penguins..  After awhile I noticed that few folks were leaving to make several trips to the powder room throughout the evening...  I thought it was all the wine - but they were checking on the game!


Now What?
Being only one check mark on my "to-do" list away from hopeful insurance approval for lap band, I am beginning to think that maybe this is all possible.. The question floating around my brain lately is "Is it really becoming a reality?"  I've been in a "holding pattern" for so long that waiting seems to have become a part of my existence.  For the past six or so months, the concept of lap band surgery has been with me, but in an abstract kind of way - sort of like how television portrays someone dreaming, you know.. the wavy thing..  Next Tuesday at exactly 8:30am I will officially check off the final hoop that I am required to jump through..  I did check both the insurance and the Dr's office about the whole "Support Group" meeting thing and was assured by all parties that although not an official requirement, they are strongly recommended.  I'll try to make the meeting next month (can you say CYA??)  So, I'm thinking "now what?"

Sandy from The Weighloss Rollercoaster inspired me while reading her blog to make a measurement chart for myself.  Sandy, I hope you don't mind that I copied yours - I wasn't thinking of all the parts that should be measured, thank you!  So, in true OCD fashion, I opened my trusty Microsoft Excel and began working on a chart to keep track of my measurements.  It looks pretty snazzy too!  I have also read that I should take a few "before" pictures...  Uhg...  There is nothing more that I hate than to have my picture taken.....  I do have a few but they are not full body shots.  Being the official family photographer I'm usually not on the other side of the lens, and everyone around here seems to forget how to use one of those newfangled thangs called a camera!  Like most overweight people, I tend to stand behind others, crouch down, or only manage to get my cheezy grin in the photo..  Mmmmmkay..  Measurements and photos..  Talk about a blow to the gut.  It's all part of the process, right?

Oh well..  There will be time for measurements and photos tomorrow (yeah, I know..  perhaps I should have given up "procrastination" for lent)..  It's time to get ready for choir practice!  Have a terrific Tuesday!!

Until Next Time!

Just a Quickie!

Just a quickie today, my "to-do" list is written on a roll of toilet paper - it is endless!  We are hosting a Seder Meal tonight for our class, and there are about a bazillion things I need to do! 

I know I haven't been the best of bloggers lately, and I promise to do better after I get through this week!

Last week I had my Psyche appointment - and I am here to prove that I haven't been committed!  Although, the Doc and the men in white jackets had to chase me out of the building and into the parking lot - I escaped without harm!  It really wasn't as bad as I thought though.  As all of you pretty much told me, "it was all in my head"..  I guess it was my own self consciousness and the endless questions that were driving me NUTS!  "Is she going to be looking for something that just isn't there??"  "What IS she looking for, exactly??"  "How do I sit?"  "How does one 'LOOK' normal??" - yadda, yadda..  I arrived a bit early (but not too early as to look too obsessive...) I filled out her questionaire, and she asked me questions..  "How was my childhood?  Is anyone in your family obese?  Tell me about your marriage..."  The whole thing lasted about an hour.  Afterwards, I met the Hubs for martinis..  Can you say "crutch"??

Now I'm off to clean my house!  Before I go, I would like to thank my dear friend, and sister, Kelly!  She sent me the most amazing package of wonderful things!!  I am so touched that you thought of me, and that you did that for me!  You truly ARE a beautiful woman, and I love you for all you are!  I thank God for you, and I Thank YOU!!

Have a GREAT day today!!

Can You Say, "NUTS"?

A view of the Chapel
which was right
across from our room

We're baaaack!  The retreat was terrific..  So peaceful.  I really got alot out of it and I am glad that we went.  I guess I've needed the break to energize me because it's been absolutely crazy around here since we've been back.  This past weekend we had finals for some of our classes (the Deacon "reserves"), the remaining finals will be taken next month.  And Holy Week is coming which means there are Masses to be planned, programs to be designed and printed - add into that mix meetings, practices and our GrandAngel and I can say that I have no idea which end is up!  With exception of our retreat, I have had my handy Ipod with me to keep up with all of you!  I may not have been commenting (my damn fingers are too big to type on that thing) but I've been with you in spirit - and I've taken all of YOU with me in prayer during our retreat...

OK..  where did I leave off..  Oh yeah, NUTS!  We'll know Friday if I'm certifiably crazy or not.  Yup, I did it.  I broke down and called the insurance company AND a Psychologist and my psyche evaluation is on Friday.  Funny thing is, for so long I didn't have any Psychologists - now I seem to have two.  Sigghhhhh...  Here's the story.  I was making calls, and the fist office I called I had to leave a message.  I left my message, number, yadda, yadda....  Then called the next number on my "list".  The second office seemed to work out, they accept my insurance, seemed nice enough, so I made the appointment.  I get a return call from the first office yesterday afternoon saying that I have an appointment with them at the end of the month!  I need to call them...  So my last two official "things to do" will finish up by the end of the month!  Friday is my appointment to see if I am NUTS, and the 29th is my appointment with my NUT - (Nutritionist)!  We're almost there!

I do have a question though that I hope you might be able to answer....  I've called the Insurance Guru at the bariatric office and she hasn't gotten back to me yet - I think another call is in order.  Anyway..  Due to prior commitments, I have not been able to attend the "Support Group" meetings the at Bariatric office offers.  They're offered every second Wednesday evening of the month.  I would like to attend, but it hasn't been possible for me to do so.  Do you think this could become an issue when it is time for me to submit everything for insurance approval??  I've checked our policy requirements and nothing is written about "support group" attendance.  I've also called the insurance company and she basically said that whatever is written in the policy requirements is what is required (no help....)  What did you have to do??  Waddya think??

Have a terrific day!

Until next time!

From Fool's to NUTS!

Please tell me it's all a cruel and twisted joke - that tomorrow I will wake up and Lisa Land will be in full Spring bloom..  ACK!!  Can you believe this??  And it all happened so fast, too!  The GrandAngel and I spent a lovely few hours in the sunshine on Wednesday "golfing" and "gathering" (oh, such fun!) A few hours later it was doing THIS!   I was under the impression that March came in like a lion and went out like a lamb...  I think the lion ATE the lamb!  Maybe it's time for emergency lap band surgery on that damn lion, waddya think?!?!

Ok, rant over..  I guess I just need to live with this purgatory of relentless snow..  A true test of will power and strength..  So this weekend, me 'n the Hubs will be on Retreat.  Each year the Deacon class needs to attend a weekend retreat - should be wonderful!  I am sooo looking forward to spending some quiet time secluded away in the mountains of Pa (even with the damn snow)..  We've never done anything like this before, so it should be an adventure!  I'll let you know how it goes...

And now the NUTS..

Today is a day of phone calls.  I have two things left on my checklist for the Bariatric Doc, and I'm going to get to them today.  This past week ended my six months of supervised weight loss checks, so all that it left (I think) are my "NUTS"..  My third and last Nutritionist (NUT) visit - which is at the end of the month, and the appointment to diagnose whether or not I am clinically NUTS!  Yeah...  my Psych eval..  I've put it off too long and it's time..  Wish me luck!! 

I wish everyone a terrific weekend!!  I will be out of touch out in the mountains, so I will be sure to check up on all your blogs when I get back! 

Until Next Time!