Number One Son

This is a picture of my number one son, since he is my only son, and his youngest, D3. My son was born 37 years ago today. I remember the day as if it were yesterday. He was born in the early morning. By calculation, he was three weeks late but he only weighed a little over 7 pounds so he was probably right on time. I was teaching and the school year started two days later. I went back to teaching four days later as I had not applied for medical leave and mine was the only income as my husband had left the Air Force and returned to college. My little guy became my life as I would teach all day and usually spend the evenings alone with him until he went to bed. He was the first grandchild for both my parents and R's parents. He was the only grandson my parents had and he was very special to them. I do believe they were special to him also.
He has spent his 37 years living in Michigan, Texas, California, and South Dakota. He is usually a pretty serious guy but I do know he likes to have fun. He met his wonderful wife learning to dance in college. They can jitterbug with the best of them (he flipped her even in her wedding dress). He loves to hunt and golf. He built the home his family lives in and works hard. On his birthday, I pray he will always love his wife and children as much as I love him. I wish him many more years to watch his wonderful three sons grow and become the kind of men of whom he can be proud. I am proud of him. I also wish for him patience, health, and God's richest blessings. Happy Birthday son!

One Year Today

It is almost midnight and I must write a blog entry today. It was one year ago today that I was banded and yes, I do believe it was the first day of the rest of my life. I went to see Dr. Glatt yesterday and again he told me how proud he was of my success. I am half way there in my opinion but it does feel good to impress one's surgeon. He decided not to give me a fill because of my problem with some foods (chicken and bread) and the fact I have lost it more often than he would like. I have to trust his experience. He did say that because I am doing so well, I didn't need to see him again for six months unless I have a problem. I am stalled right now but the exercise routine has started again that I am fully recovered from surgery and interestingly, I have maintained and lost a little of the weight by eating right.
Guess what movie I just came home from seeing? Julia and Julia Coincidental I went to see a movie about the love of food and blogging. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend. Meryl Streep at her best, again. I do love Amy Adams also!
So as I start my second year after banding, I must set a goal or two. First, I want to continue to use exercise as a means for losing weight but also for relieving the stress of work. My goal is to exercise four or more times a week for the next six months. With fall and winter coming on that means I must see exercise as a priority and allow time for it! My second goal is to eat right, chew thoroughly, take the 30 minutes necessary to eat a meal, and lose 20 pounds by February 14th, 2010.
The clock just struck midnight and I must end this day and get some rest. Bon Appetite!

What a difference almost a year makes

The picture on the left was taken one year ago today (August 19) about a week before my lapband surgery. The picture on the right was taken a week ago. Words cannot express my emotion. I have a long way to go but I do have to celebrate the difference.

If it is possible . . .

I had my surgery four weeks ago yesterday and I went back to my doctor yesterday with what I thought was an infection in my right side incision. Felt hot, oozing, and just really sore! Sure enough, I am back on an antibiotic to get things under control. Ironic that the right side was not the side that had caused the problem but was, instead, the side I opted to do for cosmetic reasons. I wanted to match!
Diane did take my blood to check the white count. All levels were good which helps me know I am eating right. She did tell me I needed to get some rest. Now we all know that stress lowers ones ability to heal and I know how much stress I have going on. Exercise helps me release that but I am not feeling up to it right now. So, things aren't adding up to feeling very good.
The weather has finally warmed up to normal August temperatures and the humidity hit today. Eight of us traveled to the Strawbale Winery for the Third Annual Quilts and Vines. Doctor said I could go if I sat and relaxed more than walking around. I have to admit, I really didn't feel like doing a whole lot of walking around. There were over 400 quilts hanging on the grapevines and it is just a beautiful setting. We had a great time, but I am whipped tonight. Don't even have the energy to go upstairs and quilt.
Enough complaining for my part. Vince has been busy in his workshop. We had old cedar boards from a downed fence shoved under the deck. I showed him a picture of an Adirondack chair and he designed his own plan and has been building us some chairs. They are beautiful and are so comfortable. He is so talented and really is a craftsman. He will stain the chairs and I will take a picture to show. Now if we could just conquer the mosquitoes.

A History Lesson - the people

I have been busy with work and not had a chance to continue my story about our trip. I wanted to show you a picture of my brother and cousins. The first one is of my brother, cousin Gary who was the 65th birthday boy, and me. I am the short one. My brother has my dad's vivid blue eyes and reminds me of my dad in facial expressions. However, my dad would never have dressed like John. I don't think my father owned a pair of blue jeans. Dad did have a mustache at times in his life and he preferred pink or yellow polyester slacks, shirts and ties. We actually buried dad in his blue and white cotton boxers that you could see through the pastel trousers most of his elderly life. We loved him just the way he was. My cousin Gary also looks like my Uncle Sherman that I loved.

The next picture is of Mary Lou and I. She is 6 months to the day younger than I am. When we were both a year old, Mary ran after a kitten in the driveway and my uncle accidentally ran over her. She has always had a very drawn face but is most lucky to be alive. She lives with her husband and son and was most happy to see us. She was very close to her mother who died a number of years ago and she called this past week to tell me how lonesome she gets and how much she appreciated our visit. Tugs on my heart!

My mother had one brother, Uncle Sherman and I have one brother. John is nine years younger than I am. His 54th birthday was two days after we visited Gary last week. I remember well the day he was born.

The rest of the people we visited last week are buried in Michigan. I am very interested in collecting information about my genealogy and work on it in my spare (LOL) time. Someday I hope my children want to read about their ancestors.

Last, but not least, I want to share a picture of my buddy at Coors Field in Denver a recent shot of the three Ds. We had a great SHORT baseball trip this year. We already have next year planned. D1 is an awesome big brother. D2 loves the mule and tractor and don't you just love the expression on D3?

Baba in South Dakota is Praying for Stellan

God is working in our "small world". Leslie wants us to wear orange tomorrow! This dear little one and his family are friends of my daughter and her family in Minnesota. I know God is watching over him and his family. Stellan is a precious child who is in the hearts and prayers of many. I pray that all of my blogging friends begin to pray for him and spread story far and wide. God will do the rest!

By the way, go to Leslie's post and add your post! http://www.lambertslately.com/2009/07/orange-for-stellan.html#links

A History Lesson

On December 5th, 1946, I was born in Hillsdale, Michigan. My great aunt Alta lived in this house in Hillsdale. It looked much the same on this trip as I remembered it (big and very nice). I lived with my father and mother, who were teachers in Quincy, Michigan on US 12 (east Chicago). It was a very busy road as it originally was the stagecoach road between Chicago and Detroit and became the main road in the early 1900's. That house has not really changed much at all. The two windows on the lower front were the living room where I remember watching the Republican convention where Eisenhower was nominated for President in 1952. I was in Kindergarten and we had a brand new black and white TV. I wasn't able to take a picture of my grandparents' house on the farm where I spent much of my time while mom and dad were at school. It was a mile south and east of town and is now a corn field.

My other grandparents lived in Hudson where my dad had been born. We visited Hudson and here is a picture of their home. I can remember many summers sitting on the screened in porch on a glider sofa and listening to my grandfather whistling in his rocker. Their house used to be covered with a shingle type siding that looked like bricks. Grandpa always had a new Chevrolet or Buick parked under the carport that has been removed. I always slept in the bedroom at the top of the stairs or the window on the left above the living room.

I have to go to bed now so that I am ready to drive Dillon and I to Denver for our summer baseball game. More later.