MIA

This has been the most amazing two weeks of my life to say the least. Nov 14 my husband turned 60 and we had a sit down dinner for 18 with great wine and amazing food. At the last minute his brother and SIL decided to come and stay with another couple ...so we also had house quests. I could go into those stories....BUT....I want to get to the best part.....

The night before the party after we had gone to bed at 1:30... the phone rang.....and it was our son informing us that he had taken Brooke to the hospital because Gunnar was ready to make his way into the world. I was no longer tired to say the least and at 3:20....Gunnar Stephen Con..... was born. 7 lbs 10 oz, 20 inches long and as healthy as can be!!!

A few days later my Mom came to visit and we all made the 9 hr drive up north to visit our first grand child.

Here's a picture of the exhausted parents...with Gunnar's furry brother Hank.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING everyone ....count your blessings!


XO

Halloween and B-Day Pic's

Our neighborhood always has the greatest parties...and Halloween is no exception. This year a couple of our neighbors and ourselves decided to be Iron Chefs or.....I'm Paula Dean( soooo fun suuuugar) DH, Alton Brown along with Mario Batelli and Guy Fieri.
I was so sore from dancing....FUN!

And last but not least my DH had a Birthday dinner for me with some friends and this is a good picture of us ...although it was late in the evening and in every picture we look toasted ;-))

FYI

A very interesting observation....I have been taking antihistamines(10 mg Loratadine)daily for over 2 months to help relieve a rash that I've been dealing with. I'm reporting on the interesting side effects.... Almost from the beginning of taking them, my weight loss stopped and I have been able to eat anything...even bread, Scary! I had somehow managed to gain 5 lbs over the last 3 months (just eating a little bit more) ;-( The rash has gone and I stopped taking the antihistamine over a week ago. Lo and behold... I have lost the 5lb gain and found myself at a new low this morning. I can definitely tell my restriction is back!

An interesting alternative to a defill...for short term!

Chicago

I knew I could get you all 1 more time with that title ;-) I haven't posted since Chicago...what's up with that?

First of all I want to say ...I love Chicago ...I love all the ladies, the planners that made it happen, and I've told them all personally how much I appreciate them. And last but not least, I love all my BOOB friends!

My roomy BG, is the BEST! She is an amazingly beautiful woman inside and out! Thanks for all the memories....Nancy!

It was so great meeting you all and reading your blogs and seeing your pictures afterwards...can't wait for next year!

My husband joined me for 2 day's after everyone left Chicago. We had a great time! The first night we were moved, to the top floor, king size room, with a great view of the city(at the BOOB'S price)...nice! After a great dinner at Valare's, we came back to our room and sat in the dark by the open window, looking at the colorfully lit buildings, in our comfy chairs, listening to the talented clarinet player, on the street below(remember him?) Drank a great bottle of wine...and well the rest is history. The next day we went on the river architectural cruise(loved it) and that night we walked down to this club called the BACK ROOM, a great jazz band played and we managed to close the place...FUN!

In the 6 days I was in Chicago I never went to sleep before 2 or 3am. I can't wait to go back....

I LOVE CHICAGO!!!!


Just wanted to hit on some thoughts I've had about the band and health issues. The rash I've had for 2 months now ( Urticaria) per Tess and my Internist, is waning down. I stopped taking my hormone suppository (Vagifem) about 6 weeks ago (thanks to Sandy) and I think that might have been the cause...or not. I have been taking antihistamines everyday for 2 months to try and stop the rash and I think it may have made my band... be NOT so tight. Because I have really been hungry and able to eat most anything.... Today is my second day of no antihistamine's and I will keep you informed ...hopefully my restriction comes back. I don't want to get a fill because I have 10.6 cc's right now and it use to be perfect.

Sandy--this might be something to consider for future airline trips and such. A lot easier than having a defill.

LB Question

Hi everyone....I am getting so excited. I can't wait to meet you all.

So... I have a question? Has anyone had an unexplained rash show up while they have been banded? Mine started about 3 1/2 weeks ago. I woke up with hot spots in my hair and around the sides of my face. They are hot red spots from the size of a quarter to bigger. Then the fluid comes to them and they get bigger and redder and very hot and itch. In a day or 2 they calm down, then go away and leave a yellow bruise for a few days, then gone.

When they were on my face, I went to the dermatologist and she said it was 'atopic eczema' maybe from new detergent or lotion or? She gave me cortisone cream and told me to take a antihistamine everyday until gone. Well that helped a little ....but not really. Since then I have had bump rashes on my shoulder, waist, head, ribs...

So now I'm frustrated and go to my internist. I didn't have a great patch to show him that day but he got the jest of it and said....2 things, 1) my body is having a reaction to the weight loss and 2) 3 months ago when I had my colonoscopy, some damage was done to my tail bone during the procedure and I have had quite a bit of pain since then.

He thinks the (hives?)are from my body dealing with the pain and weight loss. We talked about my worry of my body rejecting the band ...he said NO. He also didn't think it was shingles because they are on one side(flank).

This past Tuesday I woke with one on the side of my face that made half of my lips and face swell up. SCARY! My husband was pretty freaked! Worried that.. what if my throat closed? I've been told and know to go straight to emergency. So far they are all surface.

Does any of this sound familiar to anyone? How about you Jacquie? There was someone who had their band taken out because of rashes....but I can't remember who ?

Thanks for listening.....GRRRRRRRRRR don't need this!

The Questionaire ....minus the picture

How cool is this????

1. How did you pick your blog name? I'm kind of a Taoist at heart....and I've always believed that...less is more...the more you have the more you need to take care of. So that being said Lookinforless....just kinda fit.

2. When did you start blogging? March 2010 I had stalked a few of you before then, which is really why I felt that the LB was right for me.

3. Theme of blog? Being accountable and sharing.

4. Did you go to BOOBs 2010? NO.. and I felt like I really missed something!

5. When were you banded? March 15 2010

6. How much have you lost? 60 pounds

7. What are you most looking forward to at BOOBs? Matching faces with all these wonderful blogs, laughing, sharing, making new friends.

8. What/who do you hope to find/see/accomplish at BOOBs 2011? see #7

9. Children? Pets? I have a wonderful and supportive DH, 2 boys 33 and 20, 1 daughter inlaw who is 7 months pregnant with our first grandchild....GUNNAR and 1 parakeet named Wylie. We lost our dog of 17 years in Oct;-(

10. Who is your roomie? I am the lucky one....I got Nancy from TheSweetSpot...we can't wait to get you all together and fill you with wine or whatever and LAUGH UNTIL THE COWS COME HOME.....I don't know where I got that phrase ....but I'm filled with them!!

11. What day do you arrive? Thursday on United at 2:15, O'Hare.

12. What airport/flight/time? See above. Tina and I are getting a town car if someone needs a ride?

13. What events are you signed up for? Drag show, Second City and???????

14. Hobbies? Gardening, entertaining, cooking, traveling, sharing.....

15. Career? Volunteering and I work part time at a jewelry store...which really is an amazing place.

16. Single? Married? In a relationship? Married and in a ever changing relationship.

17. Your birthday month? October, Libra

18. What do you want other BOOBs to know about you? I am so excited to meet you all! I cry and laugh very easily!!!!! I hope you love me....

Thursday night in Chicago

Man... do I feel out of it! Has there been any talk of going to a drag show on Thursday night in Chicago? If so will someone bring me up to date?

Thanks