WLS Friendly Cocktail

One of my favorite holiday memoris when I was a kid was the yummy "cocktail" my mom would make for us.  We'd usually had it for holiday parties or Christmas or New Year's Eve.  This year my mom made it for the ladies when we did the cookie exchange a few weeks ago.  And tonight, I made it for me and Grandmas as we hang out for New Year's Eve.  



The original recipe is definitely not WLS friendly.  It's out of the old Betty Crocker Cookbook (you know, the red and white checkered binder one).  Here's the original:

Sparkle Punch

1  package kool-aid (lemon-lime or cherry)
1 c. sugar
2 cups milk
1 qt vanilla ice cream
12oz seltzer

Mix kool-aid, sugar and milk.  Pour into 6 to 8 glasses (only half way full).  Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and top off each glass with seltzer water.  Garnish with a cherry or orange slice.  Serve it with a straw and spoon.


 Sugar Free Sparkle Punch

1 tub Cherry Crystal Light (or any red colored flavor)
2 cups milk
1 quart no-sugar-added vanilla ice cream
12 oz seltzer water

Mix Crystal Light and milk.  Pour into glasses, top with ice cream and seltzer. Garnish.

So the WLS version of this drink will have less than 100 calories and even a little bit of protein from the milk. And even though it's not a real alcohol beverage, if you serve it in a wine glass, it sure does feel like it's a cocktail. 

Need Help With Your WORD?

If you're considering doing the Word of the Year, you might want to check out this excellent resource that just landed in my inbox this morning.  Christine Kane -- singer, songwriter, author, inspiration guru -- is offering a free downloadable Word of the Year Discovery Tool to subscribers of her blog. 

I just downloaded the file and I'm loving it already.  My Word is chosen .... at least I'm 95% sure my Word is chosen, still need to think on it for a day or two more .... but if you're struggling with finding your Word, this tool will help you figure it out.

Take the time to watch the video she's posted today.  I just love her!  She explains why choosing a Word is so much more powerful than setting a goal or resolution.  It's about "creating an energy of intention" to begin an "unstoppable journey" in our lives.  I love her take on "handling the details of authenticity" and how the small things in our life become the foundation for the big picture of our journey.

Here's the link:  Word of the Year Discovery Tool

~Pam

What's Your Goal for 2010?

For the past two years I've set goals (I hate the word resolution) for the New Year. 8 Goals for 2008 and 9 Goals for 2009. But this year I'm not going to do that. I'm going to try something different this year. 

My Word for 2010 --- I'm still deciding what the word is going to be but I'm compiling a list to choose from and hope to have one picked in the next week or so. Basically it'll be a word that I set for the year and focus my goal oriented energies toward that word. 

There's a couple folks who explain the Word concept Ali Edwards I first heard about the idea from Ali Edwards back in 2007 and even did it myself back then - but didn't do a great job at it. Christine Kane -- she's been having guest bloggers on her site all this month who are sharing their word for the year and why they choose it. She wrote about the concept here.

So what are you planning for your New Year Goals?

Pam

Christmas Blessings

May your Christmas be filled with the blessing of our Lord on this special celebration of Jesus' birthday. Wishing you and your family much love and happiness on this day and all to follow.

Probiotics

This past summer there was a study published in the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery about the use of probiotics after gastric bypass surgery.

Probiotics are the so-called “good” bacteria found in yogurt as well as in over-the-counter dietary supplements that help in the digestion of food. It was shown that "the probiotic group attained a significantly greater percent of excess weight loss than that of control group." How much more? Nearly 10% more weight was lost at the 3-month post-op mark. The study also showed that B12 levels were higher in patients who took probiotics than in those who did not. Read the whole story here.

So why am I posting this information now -- 5 months after the breaking news? I started taking the Acidophilus tablets shortly after I learned about the research. Remember, back in July I was desperate for anything that'd help me lose more weight and if it worked for new post-ops, maybe it would for me too? The other benefit that I kept hearing about was related to digestion and constipation - people were reporting happy bathroom visits within a week of taking the probiotics. So why not give it a shot?

What happened?

We all know the weight loss never came. But that's a whole other issue. But did it help with constipation? Yes it did! It essentially cured 20 years of chronic constipation for me. For most people they saw a difference in a week or two, but for me it took about five weeks. I still keep up my normal routine of fiber, water and fat to keep the digestive tract running - but the probiotics was the last thing that made a big difference.

What do I use?

After reading the original published study I discovered that the researchers used a regular old probiotic from Puritan Pride -- a tablet that had 3 billion live cultures. They didn't use the type that health food stores sell that claim they must be refrigerated at all times. Those are fine, but are we paying too much if we choose that type? Maybe? I found a acidophilus tablet at Walmart that fit the criteria the study used - once you open the bottle it should be stored in the fridge.

I use Spring Valley Acidophilus (2 billion active cultures) in a bottle of 60 tablets for around $12 at Walmart -- or you can get it on Amazon if you can't find it locally. It's cheaper on Amazon, of course - basically half the price of Walmart.

I've passed this information along to my nutritionist and I hope they are recommending all new patients start taking these right after surgery. We want folks to have the best chance at success as possible, right? And if these little pills help produce 10% more weight loss in the early months after surgery, let's all get on board!

~Pam

My Tummy Hates my Vitamins

In the past few weeks my tummy has not been happy with my vitamins. It's the handful of vitamins I take in the morning is causing some yuckiness. One of two things happens after I take 'em. 1) my tummy churns and I feel yucky for about an hour or 2) I get the dry heaves and my body wants to reject the pills I just put in. Either way = bad! My calcium doses sit fine. My bedtime vitamins are fine too. Just the morning stuff. So, I'm sorry to report that because of this strange yuckiness I have been skipping my vitamins more often than I'm comfortable with. I might be hitting a 70% average and that's just not acceptable! What am I going to do? I'm not sure just yet. But I'm putting it out here in the open so I'm accountable and motivated to find a solution. Here are a few thoughts...

• The vitamins I take in the morning are essentially the same as it's always been. So no new stuff that might suddenly cause the issue.
• The only change is the Vitamin A that I'm taking - it's a different brand and type. The old stuff was just a normal pill but the new stuff is "quick dissolve" so it's disintegrating while it's going down. This is the only possible thing that might be at issue, but I can take it alone without a problem, so why would it be a problem when combined with others?
• I started taking glucosamine & chondroitin to help with my knee pain (and it seems to be working, btw) -- but I took that for several weeks before the pukey feeling started, so the probability is low on this one.
• Meals -- it doesn't seem to make a difference if I take the pills with or without food. But since I get the heaving stuff going on, I've been taking them away from food lately.
• I might need to spread things out. My morning pills include 7 different things... so maybe I need to just take 1 or 2 at a time over the course of the morning. Maybe.

So I'll play around with things and see if I can find a solution. If not I'll just have to buck up and do it and quit whining, right? It's medicine, not candy... so I take them whether I like 'em or not. Period.

~Pam

Relaxing and Enjoying the Season

I keep my calendar appointments on Google Calendar. I color code the different categories of my life so I can see at a glance what's going on. Usually the days are filled to the max with stuff so as I look at the coming days and see blank space, it makes me happy. I've got my support group meeting on Monday, but otherwise there is NOTHING at all on the calendar.

Nothing. Pure bliss!

There are a few things that I want to do while I've got the extra time. I've bought 3 new books in the past week and will be working my way through them. There's a photography exhibit at the Flint Institute of Arts I want to check out. The Temple Theater in Saginaw is playing It's A Wonderful Life this weekend that I'm considering going to. I haven't been to Barnes and Noble in a while - I like to go hang out with a cup of Starbucks coffee and just browse the books. The Harvest Coffeehouse has live music lined up this weekend and if I have the time I'd like to go listen. So there's plenty to do. But it's all play stuff, so that's good!

I'll be working this week - Mon, Tue, Wed - then have Christmas Eve and Christmas off. Same for next week too. I actually like working these two weeks for the holidays because the office is quiet, phones don't ring and you can catch up on work or even bring in your own stuff to work on while all is quiet. It's nice and relaxing.

So my evenings will be filled with lots of nothing. Relaxing. Playing. Enjoying the season. Gathering the energy I'll need when the new semester starts and life gets crazy again. Life is good.

~Pam

Reality Check

I've been going through my photos from the past couple years to pick out some of my favorites. I came across this one that was taken about 2 months before my WLS. It's definitely a reality check to realize how far I've come...

Holiday Baking

I agreed to be part of a cookie exchange this year. Typically I avoid these at all costs because I never need dozens and dozens of cookies in my house! But this year I agreed. My grandmother is feeling down this year as it'll be our first Christmas without Grandpa. So my mom is trying hard to make this a special time for her and keep her busy with lots of Christmas activities. A cookie exchange was suggested.... and I agreed to participate. The exchange is scheduled for Friday evening. Which means I've got some major baking to do this week! But before I can start baking, I need to actually figure out what I'm going to make. I've been printing some options from the net or making copies out of magazines - so I have a half dozen or so to pick from already. Plus I want to look through the cookbook that I put together of my grandmother's Christmas cookies and see if there's something in there she might not be making this year that I can bake. My plan is to give away the cookies I get back in exchange. Or at least store them in the freezer and bring them out when I need to take a dish to pass somewhere. Yes, I'll indulge in some... but definitely NOT going to over indulge! ~Pam

2009 Goal Check In

1. Meditate It took me a while to get into the groove this year, but I think I'm starting a good habit in the past month. I recently picked up a book called "8 Minute Meditation" and decided to give it a shot. So now each evening before bed I take 8 minutes to surround myself with quiet and calmness. The guided lessons are easy to follow and very straightforward. So often when you read a book about meditation it's about some huge higher-power, transcending experience type of thing. But Victor Davich's approach is simple. Just sit quietly for 8 minutes and "allow, allow, allow" whatever comes through your mind - recognize it, then release it - and let thoughts float by like clouds. I'm glad I found this book. It has helped me find an easy and manageable way to fit meditation into my day. 


2. Declutter I think this is one of those goals that are more like "life long" rather than something to accomplish in just one year. I've donated a TON of stuff to charity, sorted through a lot of paperwork that just needed to be trashed and tried hard to downsize as much as possible. But there's still a long way to go. 


3. Buy less stuff This is probably the one goal where I've failed miserably. I've bought a lot of high-ticket things this year (new cell phone, new freezer, new netbook, new desktop computer, new GoWearFit). And let's not even mention how much I've spent on textbooks and school supplies! But there's an area that I feel needs some serious attention and it's something to laugh about. I find that I over-buy at the grocery story. My pantry is full and overflowing. My upright freezer is nearly full too. My cupboards are full. It's not that I eat all the food I buy, I just seem to enjoy buying it. So it's something I need to examine more closely and figure out if there's an issue I need to deal with on an emotional level.  


4. Take more photos I have! And since I've taken more photos, I feel that my skill as a photographer has improved. Being a part of a photo club certainly helps. But also in the process of taking more photos this past year -- in particular the ones where I'm paid to do so or doing some type of formal photo shoot -- I have to decide if I'm going to limit what I shoot. I know I don't want to shoot weddings anymore - too much pressure to be perfect and a huge amount of work (16+ hour days). And when I've done photo shoots for people (ie: senior pictures) it just takes me a long time to find the time to edit and finalize the files - so then I feel pressured to get the work done. So for now, while my time is precious and short, I'm going to avoid doing shoots for other people where obligation comes into play with post-processing. 


5. Go to school Oh boy am I going to school! And it's kicking my butt! The Winter quarter is going to be a true test of my endurance though. In the past I've done 2 classes per quarter and often one of them was an online course. But for Winter I've got 3 classes and all of them on the campus that's 90 minutes away from home -- so class gets out at 9:45 p.m. putting me home around 11:15 pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. But if I can survive this type of schedule and continue doing it for the following 3 quarters, I'll be done (or nearly done) this time next year. I'm glad to be accomplishing this goal, but it is a LOT of work! 


6. Knit this afghan I bought the yarn. It's really pretty yarn too. I love the colors. LOL! But no, I haven't finished it. I started it a couple times, but I realize I actually need help with this project. Either I need to find another knitter to help me along or I need to take this to a yarn store and get involved in a knitting group that can guide me. It's a good afghan to knit as a beginner because it forces me to learn how to read a pattern and do different stitch variations .... but I think it's still beyond my extreme novice abilities. It's still on the list of goals and I have a picture of the afghan hanging on my fridge... so I'm definitely going to finish it. One Day. 


 7. Spend more time with friends So this one I had to think about. Because of my school schedule my social schedule has had to take a backseat. I'm not able to attend all of the WLS support groups so I've been missing seeing those friends. And I haven't had many chances to get together with the Women's Dinner Club group although I'll see them this week. I try hard not to miss my Photography Club meetings, but come Winter Quarter at school, I'll not be able to attend those either. However, my own support group (the one I lead) I've been able to hang out with those gals a bit more than normal lately. We've done a couple field trips and this summer we did some 5K races together. I've been out to dinner with some of the gals regularly too. So all in all I think my social schedule has stayed about the same -- less quantity but more quality. 


8. Renew love of scrapbooking I tried. I really did. When I create a project and it's done I really enjoy it. But I seem to dread the idea of starting or even getting into the thick of the project while I'm doing it. So for now I'm going to let this goal fall by the wayside. My scrapbook studio room is still there and fully stocked with supplies -- and I'll work on small projects here and there. But for now I just don't have the desire to get back into the craft like I used to.




9. Continue Holistic Wellness Plan Goals Financial, Spiritual, Emotional, Vocational, Intellectual, Relationships, Character. These are the main goals of my Comprehensive Holistic Wellness Plan. Guess which one I'm focused most on? Intellectual goals are going well as I focus on school right now. And that goal should slide nicely into the vocational goal since the ultimate goal of going back to school is to change my career path. I did some major overhauling of my finances a couple years ago and feel that I'm in a very good place with money (well, winning the lottery would help, of course). I'm still not dating or have any prospects for a romantic relationship, so that one's still on hold. I'm always working on my emotional well-being and hopefully once I get some answers on this whole weight loss thing I can move forward a bit with that. I think this new meditation process is helping some with my spirituality simply because it's giving me to the time to listen to my soul and the thoughts in my head. Long ways to go on that front though. Overall I think the Wellness Plan is going well and it will always be with me as I work to make myself healthier, better and happier. Not that I'm not those things now... but we're working on the "er" part.

So for the past two years I've done a list of goals to work on for the year. 

 8 Goals for 2008 and 9 Goals for 2009. 

 But for 2010, I'm going to go a different direction. Right now I'm planning to (and this can change) do one of two things. Either set one goal to work on for the year or pick one word that will define my goals, actions and attitude for the year. Ali Edwards started the One Word idea a few years ago and I've tried it in the past -- the idea intrigues me and I'm kind of leaning in that direction. But I've got a few weeks to mull over the options and ideas yet... so I'll let you know what I decide. How'd you do with your goals for this year? 

~Pam

Just me ... knitting

The family gathered at my cousin Lisa's house for Thanksgiving. After dinner I found a quiet place on the sofa and started a new knitting project (felted bag). Look at me sitting Indian style. And that's a new shirt from my friend Geri's closet and my super cute Goodwill $3 jeans.

Just thought it was a fun picture to share with ya'll.

~Pam

Pink Pancakes

On the weekends, when I have time, I like to make Carbquik Pancakes. I use Nikki's recipe. 


Yesterday I came across an outstanding deal on blackberries -- 10 packs /$10 - so instead of my usual blueberries, I used blackberries. And I had this idea that I'd use raspberry Divinci syrup instead of vanilla for the flavor. and yes, the flavor was perfect... but... Oops! my pancakes turned out pink. LOL 


Add some sugar free maple syrup on top with a side of pre-cooked bacon and you've got a super delicious, low carb, high-fiber, protein-forward breakfast. 


 Here's the recipe:

1/3 c. Carbquick 
1 egg 
1 tablespoon SF applesauce 
1 splash raspberry Divinci syrup 
blackberries 


 Mix the batter (without the berries). It will be very thick. Drop by spoon into hot greased skillet. On top of the batter, add the blackberries and press them into the pancake to embed them into the mix. Flip when it's ready. Top with sugar free maple syrup.

This makes 3 medium size pancakes. I was able to eat 2 of them (usually I can eat all 3). I'll save the other one for a snack later.

Stats for the entire batch (calculated with the berries included):

Calories - 194

Fat - 11g

Carbs - 24g (9g net carbs)

Fiber - 15g

Protein - 13g

My Medical Team

LOL! Wouldn't it be fun to have McDreamy on my medical team?

In the past two weeks I've had four different doctor appointments and need to schedule another one. I've had bloodwork done and have more to do. I've got a follow up appointment in 6 weeks and another one in 6 months. Lots going on.... want to know the scoop?


November was my 2-year anniversary of surgery, so I had my normal annual follow up appointments. Plus my GYN appointment just happens to fall in December too. So I saw my surgeon's PA for my surgical follow up and then my PCP always wants to see me for the annual surgical follow up too. I also met with the nutritionist at the surgeon's office. And I need to make an appointment with an ENT to discuss the throat thing (I'll explain in a second). 


Some background that you probably already know. I have not lost any weight in a year. I'm essentially the same weight as I was at my 1 year surgical follow up. The scale has fluctuated a bit in the past 12 months, but basically I haven't lost anything. I believe this is beyond a "plateau" and there's something else going on. So my goal was to see if any of my doctors would agree with me - agree that I'm eating right, exercising right and still not losing weight, so something biological must be going on instead. 


My PCP and my Nut agree that I'm doing everything right. I've showed off my food logs and GoWearFit reports and it's clear that I'm in a calorie deficit that should result in a 1-2 pound loss per week. And since I've done a lot of experimenting over the past year with different calorie intake ranges and different exercise levels and routines... they didn't give me the standard line of "just eat less and move more." Thankfully! If felt good to be heard and understood. 


My PCP ordered a full thyroid panel and cortisol testing. (Need to get blood drawn tomorrow morning.) My GYN has taken me off the Depo Provera (birth control shot he had me taking to help control my endometreosis) since one of the side effects is weight gain. I see my PCP again in 6 weeks. I see my GYN again in 6 months. The Depo will take some time to clear from my system (up to 6 months) and I might not see results from that right away. 


The throat thing. I've got this strange pressing feeling at my throat. Like someone has their hand wrapped around my throat and is applying slight pressure. It seems to get worse in the evenings or when I go to bed, but it's fine in the mornings. It doesn't effect my swallowing or eating - it simply feels like an external pressure. I've noticed it for the past 6 months or so, but it's gotten worse in the past 2 months. Nobody seems to know what this is, of course. My Nut said her mother complained of the exact same thing and it was her thyroid (instead of the nodule growing outward like normal, it was growing inward pressing against her trachea). So that's where the Ear Nose Throat doctor comes into the picture. My PCP, the PA and the Nut all recommended I see an ENT. I've got a couple numbers of doctors to call and need to set up an appointment. Hopefully, someone can solve the mystery.


My labwork -- I mentioned it in a previous post, but now that I've gotten everything back I can report that things are good. My cooper was slightly low and I'll add one extra supplement per week to boost it up a bit. My B12 is showing a downward trend over the past 3 lab draws, so I'm adding one extra dose per week too. Otherwise, everything was very good. 


My meeting with the Nut was good. I really wanted to see her so she could review my food log and GoWearFit log to see if I'm completely missing anything obvious that I could be doing. Or if she had any brilliant suggestions on how to jumpstart the weight loss again. I was discouraged and weepy and frustrated as I asked for help. She reminded me that I've lost over 100 pounds and have maintained the weight loss for a year (something I'd never been able to do). So what if I'm not at my goal weight (need to lose another 30lbs for that) -- but I'm off all my medications, all my co-morbidies are gone and I'm healthy, athletic and strong. I'm a success. I'm doing everything right. And I need to stop beating myself up emotionally about how my body is behaving (or misbehaving). 


She also reminded me that genetics play a huge role in obesity and since I have a strong family history of morbid obesity that my current weight might be where my genetics allow me to be. And yes, I can accept that. But I don't want to accept it until I make sure that all other issues have been ruled out and I know for sure that I've done everything I could to lose the weight. I guess what I'm most happy about it that SOMETHING is being done.


My Medical Team is listening to me and they are working with me to figure this thing out. I'll keep you posted.


~Pam

Christmas Shopping

So far all my Christmas shopping has been done online. Last year I did a bunch of shopping online too, but this year I think it's going to be about 80% online. It is SO nice to get it done without too much hassle. Normally I enjoy shopping, but right now I just don't have the time to stroll through the malls or stores to find just the right things for people.

I just bought Land's End monogrammed tote bags for all the nieces and nephews, my mom and grandma (and one for myself). Shhhh... don't tell them! The kids will also get gift certificates to Barnes & Noble bookstore with a day long shopping adventure with Aunt Pam. Still have to figure out what to get for Dad - he's the hardest to buy for! And my sister and brother will likely get board games for the family. Then I've got some minor gifts for co-workers, friends and extended family. So with that one big order of tote bags, I'm nearly done already.

So in the spirit of the shopping season, I thought I'd give you a list of some of my favorite bariatric gifts for WLS friends and family (or yourself). I'm even going to link you up so you can do your shopping online too!

Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies -- great book with all the hardcore information you need to know about the different types of surgery and what to expect before, during and after. For more book options, check out my WLS Library List.

GoWear Fit (now known as BodyMedia) -- I love mine and would highly recommend it to anyone else who wants to know the science behind the number of calories they are burning. It tracks calories burned, steps taken, minutes of moderate and vigorous activity, plus how well (or poorly) you're sleeping. A great device for those approaching their goal weight and trying to determine how to maintain their weight or lose just a little bit more.

Omron Body Fat Analyzer -- This is the device that measures your body fat percentage and calculate your BMI. Sometimes the scale is a poor measure of success because it doesn't tell you the difference between fat and muscle. The Omron tells you the real composition of your body. I love mine!

Oster Fusion Blender/Food Processor -- Seriously folks, this is the BEST blender I've ever owned. I use it every day and it is amazing. It crushes ice so nicely that your protein shakes tastes like ice cream shakes. I also have the food processor bowl attachment and use it often for chopping nuts or slicing veggies. You can also get a smoothie cup for on-the-go protein shake blending.

Click Protein -- While you're using your blender, you might as well have the yummiest protein coffee drink, right? And if you're looking for recipes, my friend Nikkie is the queen of click concoctions.

Yoga Mat and Video -- I really love yoga! The stretching and poses are relaxing as well as giving me a good strength training workout. I have a yoga mat at work for my lunchtime yoga classes plus a mat at home for workouts using the video or FitTV programs. Or you could go with this self-guided mat that has diagrams of poses right on the mat - very cool!

Sansa Sandisk Music Player -- I'm not an iPod girl (there's nothing wrong with them, just not for me). But I love my Sansa. I've got my workout music loaded on it (PodRunner) along with podcasts, videos and photos. It's a constant companion for my workouts.

What else do you think a bariatric patient must have? What's your favorite product?

Happy shopping!

~Pam

Today

It's Friday at 12:30 and ...

• I haven't had a drop of water to drink all day.
• I haven't taken any vitamins or calcium.
• I missed eating a real breakfast.
• I didn't get enough sleep last night, so I'm dragging today.
• I'm craving chocolate.

So starting right now I wil...

1. Push the water so I end the day with 64oz. (got about 50oz)
2. Adjust my schedule and make sure I get all my vitamins in today. (done!)
3. Avoid the candy jar and push through the cravings. (done!)

I don't care about anything else... if I can do those three things today I'm doing alright. Even when life blows up and everyone is hammering at me for projects and deadlines, I still need to remember that I haven't take the time to take care of myself too.

~Pam

Lots

• My life's mantra - "I'm too busy!" - still continues to ring true.
• Two year surgery follow up doctor/surgeon appointments, need to report on those.
• 99% of my WLS labs are perfect. A few minor issues to adjust, all is good.
• More bloodwork and tests ordered for other issues.
• Going to see the nutritionist next week.
• Finals next week at school.
• Three big projects due for classes next week.
• Christmas party at my house Tuesday.
• My house needs an army of cleaning ladies.
• The following week.... three more parties (thankfully not at my house).
• Still need to do fall yardwork. Hopefully before it snows.
• Christmas shopping not even started.
• Volunteered to be part of cookie exchange. Six dozen cookies - what was I thinking?
• Slacking on water intake, vitamins, grazing and exercise.
• Need to rethink entire meal/snack schedule. If it's broken, fix it.
• Started the "Eight Minute Meditation" program. On the fourth day. Love it.
• Not getting enough sleep.
• Work is kicking my butt but should slow down after Monday next week.
• I hate that I no longer have curbside trash pick up and have to take my trash to the dumpster.
• Getting chapped lips. Pissed about that.
• Got three big projects to do for other people that are hanging over my head.
• Need to learn to say no.
• Wish Dr. W. would figure out what he's doing with the group therapy schedule.

Too busy to write in full paragraphs right now - actually it's more like "too tired". Bullet points is all my brain can handle at the moment. I know I've been slacking on writing the blog lately and I promise to be back with updates and stuff. Most of the stuff in the bullets above need to be fleshed out into full posts --- especially all the stuff I have going on with my medical "team" (finally feels like a team).

G'Night!

~Pam