Pre-Surgical tests are out of the way!

TB and I were up early to get Kristin off to school and then it was off to Lourdes Medical Center for my pre-op testing. We got there on time but Mondays are busy so we had to wait. Meanwhile, I was hungry. I've been on the shake/liquid diet 8 days now and had had nothing this morning so I was really hungry!

First I was called back to have my blood drawn. After that, I helped myself to apple juice I'd brought along. I also had brought a shake packet but wanted to hold off, hoping to meet other members of OH at a diner later. Then I went for an X-ray. After that, I went back to pre-op and that's when we got stalled again.

There were so many patients there today for surgery and for pre-op testing! I had to wait for my EKG. When that was over, I had to wait again to see the nurse. By then plans of meeting at the diner went out the window. We went to the caf afterwards. TB and I downed a large coffee each. I had my shake and he had a couple protein bars. Then we beat it out of there and came home to get some rest!

Tonight is the support meeting.

I am feeling better now that I've had some shakes, water and jello. We're going to leave soon but first I'll have my dinner shake and some broth.

I'm looking forward to that meeting!

Bubble Boy 2009

After a very rainy start to the day, the sun came out and it was nice and warm late in the afternoon. It was time to break out the bubbles and go outside! Tomas just loves bubbles.


Does it seem like he's not having fun? He really is. It's just that his concentration is such that he doesn't smile a lot. I'm thinking this has to do with PDD-NOS.



Pop-Pop got into the act and was having lots of fun, too! Doesn't he look great?





Look what we found growing in the yard! If E.B. was still here, he'd be having a feast!

Camera Critters: Easter Bunny

One day, a few weeks ago, we noticed a bunny living in our front yard. Mostly, it hung out by the bushes but occasionally would come close enough for us to pet it and so we realized it was tame. We supplemented his grassy diet with carrots and he seemed perfectly contact to live in our front yard.

The people across the way had a pet bunny with an obscene name. I can't explain people sometimes. Anyway, the bunny got free and they didn't try to capture it again. I think this bunny and their former bunny is one and the same. We changed the original nasty name to Easter Bunny, or E.B. A couple of times we tried to catch him (we have an empty bunny hutch) but he didn't seem too interested in that.

Just a few days ago, a couple of little girls and mom in tow came to the door to ask if they could try their hand at persuading the bunny to come live in their hutch. Since these weren't the same original owner morons, we said sure. E.B. must like kids because he went along with them.

I was kind of hoping to have E.B. around for Easter but this is okay. I'm sure he's got a much better home now!

Some Treats, Please!

Kosmo was put on a special diet...and I know how he feels!

Dr. Hartsock, our vet, weighed Kosmo and was alarmed by his poundage. Kosmo is now on a special diet, has to be segregated from the rest of the gang when he eats, and all the food has to be picked up within a half hour. Needless to say, everyone in the gang is pretty miserable--especially around mealtimes.

TB took these pictures this morning. Cubby found some treats on his desk and did his best to "break in" to no avail!

Want more cat blogging? Be sure to check out Blogging Cat Noos for all the latest on where to find this weekend's carnivals!

As for me, I am still hanging in but have several "sour hour" times where I'm as miserable as the cats: very early morning and then late afternoon/dinner time. There is a chunk of the day when I feel fine: after the breakfast shake until the late afternoon.

During the "sour hour" times I feel weak, dizzy, off balance, very irritable and fuzzy headed. Usually my sugar is okay but I have bottomed out and needed some apple juice.

This is day five. There's nine more days to go.

Liquid Diet, Day Three

My grumpy ghrelin is accusing me of abuse, of trying to starve myself to death and threatening dire revenge for keeping up this liquid diet. . I think this is one of the things I won't be battling after the duodenal switch because the part of my stomach which makes ghrelin will be removed. I hope so anyway.

My stomach is trying to convince me that I feel physically weak and will pass out. I say to myself the same thing I told myself when I quit smoking cold turkey: Just for today, I will not put solid food in my mouth. I also pray for strength when I feel week. It took three weeks of saying that to myself about the cigarettes and praying for strength. I only have to be on the liquid diet two weeks before the surgery.

After the surgery, it's my understanding I won't really feel like eating. I'm not worried about after surgery.

One day at a time, one day at a time!