40 and loving it (even 10 days later)!!!

Hello everyone!  OK, yes, I stink at posting lately... sorry!  I have had such a great month - my 40th birthday, Thanksgiving, and seeing family and getting ready for the holidays!

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I got "Flocked" with 40 pink Flamingos in my front yard for my 40th - such a FUN surprise!!!  My folks came down, and we had a nice quiet dinner Friday night (my birthday) and then Dennis (and Lucia) had a really nice party for me at our house on Saturday night - such fun to celebrate!  Although I still haven't crossed the 200 threshold, I look and feel SO much better than I did when I turned 30!  (or 20 for that matter)...

"Feather you like it or not, it's your 40th Bird-Day Sarah!"

The day before my birthday, we had some family pictures taken - I had bid on the sitting at a charity event, and finally got around to using it - and they turned out wonderfully!!!  Although sometimes I look at myself and see how much I have to lose, I do see how far I've come in these pictures!

Me, playing with Liam

The family...

Liam - trying to get out of the gate...

My two babies...

Lucia - no clue the picture was being taken...

Me, and my Dad (and Liam)

Dennis and me...

The session was fun - love seeing the pictures, and not being horrified at what I look like!  And then last night, we went to our neighborhood's Holiday Gala... which was really fun and I loved being able to wear a size 14 cocktail dress!  All in all, life is good.  Definitely need to pick it up on the weight loss front, but I really love where I am in life right now.  40 is wonderful, and I have a great family and wonderful friends to continue the journey with!

At the Holiday Gala...

Almost 40: HELP!!! (Calling all bandsters)

So, my bandster (and other) friends... I need some help.  

November 30th, I will turn 40.  And damn it, I SO WANT TO BE UNDER 200 POUNDS!  As I write this, I am weighing in about 204.5... not very far to go, but SO very far away, if that makes sense...  For whatever reason, I find myself in the same place I was right before I got pregnant with Liam... struggling for months to pass that 200 pound mark.  It is so scary in so may ways.  And honestly (if I am being completely honest with myself) it is my choice to imbibe alcohol (wine) EVERY.SINGLE.NIGHT.  More than a glass....  Because....

Well, I really don't know... Who am I at under 200 pounds?  Will I like that person?  Does she deserve me and my family?  So many questions bigger than my weight... (sigh, with tears...)

I haven't weighed that since high school, except for about 12 days before I got pregnant with Liam, and honestly that was because of the flu (but I welcomed & enjoyed that number)...

Seriously.  I haven't been under 200 pounds SINCE HIGH SCHOOL.  Do you know how long ago that was?!?!?  Well, if you can do math, you do.  Over 20 years.  More than 1/2 of the life I've lived.  I was Sarah Landolt then.  Not Sarah Fogler, who I've been (very happily) for almost 12 years...   I barely remember who that person was, way back then!!!  But I want to meet her again, and get to know her.

Especially before I turn 40, 

so that I can truly celebrate 40.

I did have a mini NSV last week when I fit into a pair of size 14 pants... but I know that is just the first of so many NSV's that I owe myself, 3.5+ years into this banding journey...  I want them to keep coming!  Why do I have these mental blocks?!?!?  Why is it that I don't want to blog and be in touch with so many of you who have provided me such inspiration?  The last few blogs I've had, I've had so few comments... and I feel like somehow I've missed out on you ladies....

HELP!  I feel kind of alone right now... I haven't been posting, so I'm not on the bandster radar... but I need you ladies right now for suggestions, encouragement, kicking-me-in-the-ass...  all of that stuff!  I hope you welcome me back into your world(s)...  Because I want to celebrate 40 with all of you, in that I am solidly below 200 pounds and that I know I'll never be above it again.

And, so I am not remiss,  Happy 4th Bandiversary to my dear friend, Catherine...  You are such an amazing inspiration to me throughout all of this!!!  (seriously, xoxoxoxoxo...  I am determined to plan an NYC trip to see you and Jen with Lucia, sometime very soon!!!)

Long Time, No Post... SORRY!!!

Hello all my bandster (and other) friends & family!!!  I've missed you... heck, I've missed posting for a long, long time.  I have no excuses, other than life has just gotten crazy... and honestly, three-and-a-half years out from being banded, I don't have a lot to share right now on the band front.  I know that this is MY blog, and I can make it what I want too, but somehow, I feel like I've dropped off the band-face-of-the-earth and don't have a lot to add.  But, I owe it to myself (and those of you who love me) to keep you posted and stay honest, so here is where we are in life:

Since the last post, I've had some ups and downs with my band... We went on vacation and I got so tight that I had to come back and get an un-fill... since then, I've been in twice once to go back up 1 ml, and then back down....  Right now as it stands, I am at 4.5 ml, and feel pretty good.  I am probably a smidge looser than I should be, but at 5.5 I couldn't swallow water.  So, I am good where I am.  I am holding steady... and right now I am at 201.5.  

AAARRRGGGHHH!!!

I can't seem to break that 200 point.  I guess if I gave up wine for more than a week I could, but I haven't made that choice yet.  I am DETERMINED that by my 40th birthday at the end of November, I will be firmly in the 190's or lower.   I feel great though - essentially, I am at my real lowest point since the surgery... I did get into the high 190's right before getting pregnant with Liam, but only because of a week long stomach bug.  So that didn't really count... but  I can say from a clothing perspective that I am definitely out of 18W & 16W's and into 16's comfortable (gasp!) which is really exciting.  In fact, the other day I had to fold over the top of my pants to hold them up.  That was pretty cool!  And the compliments that I have been getting from folks are really reinforcing that I look good (and feel good) and that I know that the decision to get banded so long ago is still the best one I ever made... without a doubt.

I wish I had been able to go to Chicago - and it sounds like maybe BOOBS 4.0 won't necessarily happen (at least in the same capacity).  And while that makes me sad, I just need to find ways to continue connecting with those of you who I've been so blessed to make connections with...  So I will continue to build those relationships through my blog and hope to stay connected!  And I do read and follow, just haven't posted comments as much as I should have (sorry!).

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OK:  On the not-band-related-blog-front... here is what is happening in our lives:

Liam is almost 16 months old, and a HANDFUL!  He is fully living up to his middle name of Thor and hammers on everything available.  He is such an immense joy though... always happy, kissing, hugging, loving and snuggling.  All that makes up for him not sleeping in his own bed (lol)...

Lucia is absolutely LOVING her new school, and the transition couldn't have gone smoother.  She's joined the cross-country team, and has had a few races ... clearly taking after her daddy...  And she has an A+ in religion (and great grades in other classes).  I am so glad we made this decision for her because it has been, without a doubt, the right one.  Oh... and she's still riding horses, in fact, has picked up a 2nd lesson a week (yikes) and just loves it - I can see such a change in her already, and her trainer told her that if she keeps it up, she'll be in "real" (vs. just barn) shows next year (do you hear that flushing sound?!?!?!  That would be our checking account... sigh....)

Dennis is the same - crazy, busy at Cisco, and continuing to be such a great husband and dad.  I've been able to do a mother/daughter (leader/daughter) weekend with Lucia at Girl Scout Camp, and am heading out of town next week... he is so supportive of us and I am a really lucky girl.

On the work front, I am swamped... I am the lead on a diocese-wide payroll project which, if approved, will on-board 180 employing locations onto one platform.  YIKES!  But exciting... and then there is the rest of my "real" job that keeps me busy - all with a reduced 30 hour a week schedule (by my request) so I can pick up Lu at school 2 days a week... but so far, it is working!  And I was just selected to present at a National conference in Tampa in April, which is really cool... thankfully my presentation (on Generations in the workplace) is already about 80% done... but still a lot of work to do to ensure it is top-notch, since this is a national platform for my line of work.

That is all for now... I've included a few pictures below of life....  Hope a few of you are still following me, and please know I am doing the same with you... 

xoxoxoxoxo

Beach Fun, Band Issues & Baby boogie-boarding...

Lucia & Liam... walking on the beach together...

We are on vacation at the beach and for the most part, having a blast...  We are with some great friends, and very, very relaxed...  Weather has been a bit hit or miss, but good enough that we've had some great time at the beach and inside the place we've rented.  Personally, I like cloudy & rainy days, and we had two of those, and the rest sun - should finish out the vacation with sunny days too.

My friend Lori & Me, with Liam at the beach (and his blue shovel)

 I did have a bit of a bummer on Monday - my band for some reason had gotten so tight over the last week that by Saturday (of course, it couldn't have happened BEFORE vacation), I was throwing up a few times a day and Sunday all day - couldn't get liquids down, and Sunday night was up all night with acid reflux worse than I've ever had it.  I called the doc first thing Monday AM, and they were able to fit me in that afternoon, so I drove home to Richmond and saw the doc.  They've completely unfilled me and I have a barium x-ray next Tuesday...  She thinks that something just got stuck and I got very inflammed, but I guess we'll know for sure on Tuesday.  Fingers crossed there is no slippage...  I did have almost 6 cc's in my band though, which I was SHOCKED about - last time I had that much, I couldn't swallow water either - so I am hoping I was just too tight.  I got to come back to the beach Monday night - it sucks that I lost a day, but I am enjoying myself SO MUCH MORE now that I can drink and eat, it was worth it...

Me and my boy...

Liam really seems to like the beach - unfortunately, he has a cold and is cutting about 6 teeth at once, so he is a bit grumpy but still we're having a blast.  He's happy as a clam to be sitting in the sand and digging with his shovel and bucket.  Sand in, sand out.  Sand in, sand out.  And so it goes.  

Liam and his green striped sock-shoes.

Lucia got a new boogie board, and is perfecting her style with her daddy... the family we are with have two girls on either end of the age spectrum from Lu, and they all seem to be getting along great (considering the close quarters).

Lucia working her boogie board

Dennis is fully relaxing which is great for him... I think they boys are going to go fishing tomorrow... we'll see what they come back with!

All in all, life continues to be great.  Lucia starts school two weeks from Monday, so we have a few weeks of summer left.  Personally, I am ready for the fall to be here - never really been a hot-weather kind of girl.  Give me 50 degrees and crisp weather for wearing sweaters!!!

Is this my "new normal"???

Hi All...  hope everyone is doing well!  I am good... heck, I am great I guess!  I could have so many things to complain about but I don't.  We didn't lose power with this last round of storms, I am FINALLY feeling better (sick most of June), the renovations on our house are done and awesome, although we (yes, WE, i.e. Dennis and I) still need to paint, and the kids are for the most part, healthy!

I am, however, wondering if this is my "new normal" of being banded.  To recap, I've been banded 3 years and 5ish months... I've lost about 85 pounds from my highest weight, which is right where my surgeon said I would be with the band, so YAY ME!  Unequivocally, it is a success story, even when I change the ending on myself...

I am weighing in these days around 204, and enjoying my Chardonnay tremendously, which I do believe (hell, I KNOW) has kept me above that 200 mark.  I still have about 25 pounds to go with actual exercise and watching what I am eating, and I know that I can get there - I just have to choose to adjust my brain to do that.

I wonder, being this far out, if this is normal?  I live with the band every day, and thankfully have had minimal problems with it.  The last week that I had my period, I was extremely loose which is NOT the norm... the week following, super tight... but I think I am at a good point with it - I rarely PB anymore unless I eat too quickly and that has nothing to do with the band, but everything to do with me.  I also rarely watch how much protein I eat and find myself choosing less smart slider options... I feel pretty darn good where I am.  I have also realized though, that until I get plastic surgery, I will always have this "fold" at my belly that will more than likely keep me in "teen" sizes at best... and honestly, my genetics regarding my thighs probably mean that going much below a 12-10 is truly a dream.  But I am in a comfortable 16 bottoms and M-L shirt, and can still see my collar bone which is a big thing for me!

I am a bit disappointed that I haven't been blogging as much, but think that the extenuating circumstances of a one-year-old have just a bit to do with that... but I also do think that I am in a new normal - and there just isn't as much "band" related stuff to share!  I am committed though, to not letting this lapse because it does keep me honest.  So, I will pledge to keep putting out updates as I can and feel like they are relevant enough to do!

And, I need to start doing a few more pictures of my status... i.e. the front/side/rear views... that was a good and motivating thing for me.  Haven't had one of those for a while, so will try to do one soon!

Eight. My baby is Eight!

Where on earth has the time gone?  I feel like it was just yesterday that we were bringing Lucia home from the hospital, and yet she is 8 today.  She has grown up SO MUCH in the last year - both physically and emotionally... it is amazing.  My beautiful girl... who BTW apparently turned 13 in the attitude realm of things!  In all seriousness, she is such a good girl, good sister, good friend... I can't wait to see her continue to grow up but at the same point I am torn with wanting her to stay little, naive, sweet, loving... which she will still be, but in a less naive way!  (BIG SIGH)

On another front, I am VERY excited this morning, because I bought a Lilly Pulitzer skirt to "work my way in too" and I got there!  When I first bought it, it was very tight and not very flattering, but this morning it went on perfectly!  Yay!  Me with my birthday girl above ...  and then in the Lilly skirt below!

(De)Construction in a few different ways

I am going to try really hard to be better about blogging - really, I am!  I've felt though, that I just haven't had a lot from a lap-band perspective to talk about, and so haven't.  BUT... I also think that 3 years out from being banded, it is perfectly okay for this blog to move from the "losing weight" part to the "gaining tons" part of my life!!!  So, here we are!  A few "highlights" (some low-lights) from the last few weeks!

• (+) Liam turned one last week.  ONE!  Where on earth has the time gone?  He is such a joy, and Lucia is such a great helper for us with him.  And he absolutely adores her...

Boy, he looks like he's going to get into some trouble one day! 

My sweet boy... 

He adores his big sister!

• (-) I have been sick since June 1st.  Dennis and I both got a TERRIBLE cold and after 4 days of fever, the rest of it has lingered.  I've had laryngitis at some level since the 1st (yes, going on 18 days) and am just beat.  I finally went to see the doctor today, and he basically said that it is a virus, and that I may be another few weeks with the voice issues.  If it doesn't clear up by July, we'll consider an ENT... in the meantime, "BE QUIET"!  (Does he know how hard that is for me???)
• (+) Yes, a highlight for me... One of my dear "blog-buddies" who I have had the privilege to meet / see a few times had such a great weekend...  CATHERINE GOT ENGAGED!!!  Yay Catherine!!!  We all can't wait to hear details here in band-blog-land!!!  I can't begin to tell you how happy I am for you!
• (+) We had an absolutely wonderful (and quiet) Father's day... so nice and laid back... no drama, great weather - couldn't be better!

Den & the kids in semi-matching PJ's

PHYSICAL (DE)CONSTRUCTION THOUGHTS:

• I found out today at the doctor that I am back down to about 205 which is right about where I was when I got pregnant with Liam.  YAY ME!  I feel good, although without working out / exercising, the clothes aren't fitting quite as well, but I'll get back there eventually.
• Also on the physical front, for the first time in my adult life, I have VERY GOOD cholesterol.  HURRAY!  Talk about a major NSV!!!  For a while, at my highest weight, I was on cholesterol meds and one of my doctors when I was first pregnant with Lucia diagnosed me with a fatty liver and told me that at the rate I was going, I would be back in there in 5 years being treated for that. Well, NO SIR!  No more high cholesterol, no more fatty liver, I am definitely in way better physical shape than I was back then!
• I need to "(De)Construct" my food choices.  I read Camille's post today about the 30 day regimen she went on and it is really interesting.  I need to think seriously about cutting all of the crap (especially the sugar and alcohol) out and see if that can kick-start me back under 200.  

HOUSE (DE)CONSTRUCTION THOUGHTS:

• Dennis and I started some construction work on our house today.  Well, okay, let's be real.  Our amazing contractor, Larry, started it.  Seriously, we don't even mow our own lawn.  There are some things we are good at, and some things we aren't.  It isn't a huge remodel, more of a "moderate" one... We are expanding the "door" / opening between our family room and kitchen, which are the two rooms we live in the most.  We are pulling out the gas fireplace which we NEVER used, and turning that into a built-in (the space behind there is HUGE!)...  Turning a door out to the sunroom into a window, and then a window in the kitchen into french doors going out to the same sunroom... New quartz countertops, new flooring, new appliances including a gas (!) stove, a new storm door with a screen (one of the minor things that I am VERY excited about) and a bunch of other little piddly stuff that really makes me happy.
• We are really blessed in this economy to be able to make these changes - spending money isn't always the most "fun" thing for our family but I am excited about how much more "useable" these changes are going to make the main part of the house where we live... Supposedly it will all be done by the end of next week - we'll see!  I'm taking off a few days post-July 4th to clean up and do touch-up-paint, so they'd better be done by then.
• Pictures of the demo so far...

The fireplace demo... you can't tell, but it is about 4 feet wide by 3 deep and about 12 high (goes above the ceiling)... it will be paneled inside with built in shelves and is where the TV will go - note, a MUCH bigger TV than we currently have will someday fit in there!!! 

The original opening between the kitchen and family room was the rectangle to the left... they are opening it up about 2-3 feet wide and a foot high - which is going to make a HUGE difference in opening the entire space!

In other news, here are a few pictures of me since I realized I haven't posted much of those lately!

Liam and me, a few weeks ago...

With a friend at his party on Saturday opening presents...  I am so happy at how thin my face is these days!

Hope everyone is doing well...  I will keep trying to be better about posting!

My Little Man is ONE!!!

Happy First Birthday Liam!!!

I can't believe it, but my sweet baby turned one today... I don't know where the time has gone, and I certainly haven't been a great blogger in the last year - so much has changed, in so many ways!  He is an amazing blessing and such a happy boy (and you wouldn't know it, but he is sick and drippy in this picture)...  Honestly, every day he makes me smile and makes my heart melt - he is so sweet and kind and is getting such a neat personality!

None of us can imagine life without him!

It is so funny how different #2 is... we don't have anything major planned for him from a party perspective - just a small cookout with friends and my parents.  Which honestly, even sounds like a lot right now because we've all been sick for the last week!  But thankfully it is an easy group of folks...

Next week we are beginning some demo/construction on our house that should take about 10 days - I can't wait for it to start and then FINISH so I can get our lives back into place!  I am hoping to use it as some motivation to clean out those rooms and get rid of all that extra "stuff" we have a tendancy to accumulate.  We are knocking down part of a wall in the family room to connect it more to the kitchen (open it up), moving a door, adding a window and a built-in bookcase, and getting new counters, floors, and appliances in the kitchen (and bath/mudroom & porch too).  Fun stuff!

Bad Blogger, Bad Blogger!!!

Wow... no posts for the entire month of April!  I really am not completely sure why it has been so damn hard for me to get into blogging lately... But I am just not feeling it, so have to trust that feeling I guess! I am reading about my buddies, and silently cheering you all on though!... 

For what it is worth, here are a few quick bullets of what is going on, that are pretty random...

• LIFE is busy!!!!  April - we had spring break, and went to Disney and Jacksonville and the Charleston area - lots of fun with friends and family...  Here are two pics of the family from that trip...  Both favorites, because they all look so darn happy!!!  I am a blessed wife/mom!

• Work has been CRAZY busy - way busier than usual which I guess is good, but also hard to balance everything else with.  Honestly, I just want to get thru the end of the school year and into the summer.  For some reason I think that things will calm down - but I am probably kidding myself.  At least I have Lucia's summer camp schedule firmed up (phew!).

• My weight is "ehhhh"...  I have put on about 7 pounds since Easter, in mostly liquid intake (i.e. Chardonnay, milk shakes, etc...).  I am finding myself making poor choices, and really need to refocus myself to get into a better place subconciously.  I say subconciously, because the choices tend to be stress-related, and going back to those old habits of "something-goes-wrong-or-is-hard-so-I-choose-to-eat" mindset, although now I choose to drink... or eat something crappy like a slider food.  So, at least I recognize it - now to change that behavior...  I know I can do it - just have to really refocus myself TO DO IT.

• A lot of my stress has been from trying to decide what to do for Lucia about school next year - long story short, where she is hasn't been working out as well as we would like, and ultimately we think she'll do better in another setting... so we FINALLY decided that she'll be going to a new school next year, which we are all excited about.  In fact, I dropped off the registration paperwork and deposit this morning.  YAY!

• As I am getting just a bit closer to 40 (still have a good long way to go), I have been having lots of "what-am-I-doing-with-my-life" conversations in my head.  Sometimes I need to tell myself to shut up.  However, "career-Sarah-who-was-supposed-to-be-head-of-HR-somwhere-by-now" keeps cropping up and telling the other Sarah (I.E. "Sarah-who-chose-to-work-for-an-amazing-company-at-a-slightly-lower-salary-and-job-responsbility-level-because-it-was-the-right-thing-to-do-for-the-whole-family-and-oh-who-loves-her-job-and-never-takes-work-home) that she made a mistake...  Career-Sarah needs to shove it and go away!  I wish I could get her out of my head.

• I am bummed out but will not be able to make it to BOOBS 3.0 this year - not an easy decision, but it is what it is. 

I think that is it for now - I will try to post more this month than last (look - I already did!)...  Happy Thursday!

Fancy Date Night & Three NSV's

Hi All...  I am trying to be better about blogging, but for whatever reason it is hard!  However, I am VERY excited to share a few pictures from this weekend.  Dennis and I were invited to a black-tie event for a wonderful cause (Comfort Zone Camp which is a camp for grieving children) on Saturday night, and we went with some friends of ours... What a blast...

My 3 NSV's are that my size 14 dress that I bought a month ago was too big up top and my mother had to pin it, my collar bones are really showing well, and finally that shoes I had bought a while back but hadn't worn yet were too big - I bought them 20 pounds ago and they fit, but now they don't since I've lost more weight... YAY! (And thank god Zappo's has a 365 day return policy!!!)

The NSV's are kind of cheesy, I know... but those random little reminders are so fun.  It was so exciting to wear a cocktail dress (it was knee length) and to be there, comfortable with my arms showing even though the chicken wings are there and most likely will be for a long time.  Also, to look around and know that I was far from the largest woman in the room was really liberating.  I was SO comfortable - even standing up most of the night ... 80+ pounds ago I couldn't have done it... so horray for me!  What fun!

If you want to see some recent pictures of Lu & Liam, check out our family blog - I posted a few there from the last week or two... Lucia took 2nd and 4th places in her two horse show events this weekend!

Stuff...

I continue to struggle with blogging... and I just read Sandy's (Weightloss Rollercoaster) post on her NEW blog (Rest of Our Days) and it REALLY, REALLY resonated with me.  When I started the blog, I had no idea on the journey I was about to embark on over the next 3 years...  WOW.  I wouldn't change anything, really, but I do find myself moving into this new part of my life where I am feeling good, healthy, happy - and where blogging isn't as critical to my success as it used to be.  Am I going to stop?  No... but I definitely have slowed down.  I still have a lot to accomplish with this wonderful tool, but I also have a lot to do life-wise, that may not be as "open booked" as it used to be...  Maybe so, maybe not.  Who knows!

At any rate, it is good to think about, and I am glad to know that others are feeling similar things.  I did see my NP yesterday, and got great feedback about how I am doing.  I weighed in yesterday at 209, and that puts me officilly 80+ down from my highest weight.  And only about 5-7 away from my pre-pregnancy weight!  In fact, one of my co-workers today said that I looked "fantstic - like right before you got pregnant"... Bless her!  I am at a good restriction point where I am really having to make good choices, chew my food well, and remember all the lap-band rules.  I am glad that I am there.  Not too much struggle, but also it is a very evident tool that I am aware of.  Sometimes when I am too loose, I forget.  Not so much now.

Otherwise, life continues.  A few ups, a few downs - pretty typical, all in all!  I am looking forward to going on vacation soon for Lucia's spring break and seeing some wonderful friends... heck, family!  And also seeing family too!  I'm sure I'll post before then.  Take Care!

A great weekend... and downward scale movement

Just a quick Monday morning update... we've been having amazing weather here latley, and this weekend was no different - our neighborhood's St. Patty's Day party was Saturday afternoon, and we all had a blast at it.  Sunday was just spent piddling around the house, and then Lu had her lessons... We had dinner with my cousin and her new boyfriend last night (who is VERY nice), and honestly it was a wonderful weekend - wish I could do it all over again!

I am definitely tight - but I think mainly in a good way...  my food portions are just where they should be (about 1/2 - 3/4 a cup) and I stay full for a long time.  I've had a bit of acid reflux, but not too bad...  I am going in this week, so we'll see what she says.  I weighed in this morning at 208.5, which I am REALLY happy about - especially considering I am not formally exercising other than lifting up Liam repeatedly!  Hoping that I will be under 200 by May at the rate I am going.  YAY! 

Happy Monday!

Three years and a few days...

Hi All...  I apologize for not being on here much, especially since I pointed out that I was suprised so many people hadn't posted in a while on my last post.  No excuse.. just haven't been feeling the "blog" thing lately.  I am finding it really hard to put pen to paper (well, fingers to keyboard) and write about this lately.
Here is where I am though... February 20th was my 3 year bandiversary... It went right by and I didn't even realize it until last week!  Still by far, the BEST. DECISION. EVER.  Honestly, I can't imagine life without my band, and I am starting to forget how uncomfortable I was back at the 280's and 290's...  I hope I never really do forget because I don't ever want to end up back there, but I am glad that where I am now is more my "normal".

I got refilled back in mid-January, and it is awesome.  I only got a "smidge" more in my band (medical term), but it was perfect, and I am at the right restriction, only able to eat about 1/2 - 3/4 of a cup of food at a sitting, and that lasts me a good 4-5 hours... I am finding though, that mentally I still really want to eat more.  I want the sensation, the feeling, the taste, etc...  I have to really be present in my eating to not subconciously put too much in.  Thankfully (maybe?) though, I have this new "side effect" in that as soon as I put that extra bite in that is too much, I start getting a headache - and a killer one at that, so it is a good reminder that I've gone far enough!  Kind of weird, but I'll take it!!!  As of the other day, I was down to 210 so I am quite pleased with myself, especially since I am not doing ANY exercise other than hauling around Liam!

I am excited about BOOBS 3.0... hoping that everything will work out that I can make it this fall.  We have alot going on, but I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will work out, and hopefully I will know for sure in the next month or so.
On the family front, we are just wrapping up a bout of RSV and yet ANOTHER ear infection with Liam, but he seems to be handling it okay - was out of school all week until today, but back now... Lucia is doing great - just a wonderful 7 year old girl.  We are really blessed!  Okay... I promise I will try to blog more.  I am still reading everyones though!!!

Oh - and on the picture... Three Year NSV is that we got our girl scout cookies last night, and I was COMPLETELY SATISFIED with just 2 cookies.  Hooray!!!