How's this for a mysterious post?

Instead of going to find out what was wrong with my band on Wednesday, I got a positive pregnancy test and had to cancel.  X-rays are bad for babies! ;)

There's more to that story but I don't have time to post it.. but I do have a picture of what I saw on Thursday morning. :)

I'll post the entire story really soon.  But to sum it up... I still don't know what's wrong with my band and now I won't, possibly, for another year.  We are thrilled and can't wait til Fall! :)

Happy Valentine's Day AND 100 followers!! :)

Happy Valentine's Day to all my 100 followers!!! Wow, who would have thunk that one!? :)

On to regular news... I scheduled my upper GI for February 24th at 8 AM.  It's at the hospital in Madison and I'm pretty much super excited to get it done so I can, hopefully, have some answers.  

Along those lines, I'd like to say THANK YOU to everyone that commented on, or even just read, my blog entry about all this mess.  I think a part of me expected all of you to bail on me because I feel like I'm not a "real" bandster for some reason.  I have a band, yes, but it's not working properly.  Hopefully one day I'll have things up and running correctly and I'll get to utilize all the wonderful information you ladies have taught me.  In the mean time, if anyone knows anyone else in my shoes, send them my way!  I'd love to be able to help someone.  That would really make me feel better.

We had company Saturday.  My BFF, Leann, came to visit from Indiana.  She brought her fiancé and son (who happens to be 3 days older than my daughter) as well and we had a great time!  We went to bd's Mongolian Grill for dinner and then followed that up with some tubing at Cascade Mountain.  What a fun night!!  We got there with about an hour and 15 minutes left to tube and we took advantage until we were icicles.  They stayed at a hotel (for reasons unknown to me, we have a spare room and plenty of extra space) in town and came back for breakfast this morning.  I cooked an egg casserole-y thing and we had fresh fruit and toast with it.  They had another destination in Wisconsin today so they left before noon.  

I got on my computer to play around and then went up to cuddle in bed with my family (they were watching movies in bed) and promptly fell asleep... for 3 hours! LOL!  It felt great to catch up on sleep though.  We stayed up until midnight last night doing wedding projects and talking.  She also brought my bridesmaid dress along.  I've mentioned the dress in a past post.  It FIT!  :)  I felt a little compressed in the upper abdominal area so there needs to be a little hard work to improve that.  I'll be doing a lot of dress adjustments during the ceremony so I need to be able to MOVE, lol.  I'll post pics (she took them) when I get them! :) 

Hope everyone else had a fabulous weekend! :)

Coming out of hiding.. with semi-bad news

Well, I am the same as everyone (most..) else and I hid when something was wrong.  *hangs head in shame*

I went in for another fill today and went armed with a speech to give.  I was ready to fight for myself and was VERY happy to find out that I didn't have to.  My nurse practitioner (NP) came armed as well.  She talked to my surgeon last night about me and they have a plan for me.  I was ranting on and on about how I'm gaining weight and it CAN NOT be all my fault.  I exercise 4 times a week and recently added in boot camp classes when possible, too.  I drink only water and milk (before meals or between as a snack) and until very recently have been following eating guidelines quite closely.  Only "until recently" because I have been feeling SO down that I've been stuffing my face with junk.  I admit this though.

My NP just nodded and sat there looking awfully sympathetic.  When I finally shut up and let her talk she told me their plan.  I'm to get an esophagram as soon as possible.  They said they have ruled out all other possibilities and are ready to look into more serious problems.  She expressed to me that they do NOT think this is my fault.  They think something is wrong with the band.  She said one of two things are likely at this point: 1) the band slipped up around my esophagus, thus, creating no pouch.  or 2) the band slipped down further or some of my stomach has prolapsed through the band.  Again, this problem would have made a larger pouch.

Both issues would explain the urge to look for food all the time and my seemingly insatiable appetite lately.  The first issue would explain why I feel some "stuck" feelings sometimes when I eat (but they pass quickly.. like a clogged drain) and why I get the hiccups when I take a drink while eating or eat too quickly.

So.. this continues the saga of Tiffani. :(

IF one of these proves to be true there is one solution.  Surgery.  I'm self-pay, in case you forgot.  I asked if the surgeons would donate their time or some such to help cut down on costs and she said she didn't know because I was the first person she knew of this being a possibility for since working there (she started in August).  She said it was definitely worth exploring though if we need to.

The NP sat with me for probably 30 minutes.  Our appt was a 15 minute time slot.  She had tears in her eyes right along with me when I sat there taking this all in.

Obviously, I got no fill.  I will be called soon to schedule my appt for that test and we'll go from there.  She said our next step would be to look for a leak but they really don't think I'm showing signs of that happening.

I would have so many decisions to make if this (any of this!) is the case... remove the band, replace the band, reposition the existing band.... UGH UGH UGH :( :( :(  I hate this.

Did I mention I'm 5 lbs away from weighing what I weighed on my date of surgery?  Yeah.  Something's wrong.

Questions stolen from everyone!!

Had a VERY busy weekend as seems to be our usual.  Makes the week come up on us way too quickly.  This Friday I'm seeing my therapist again, finally.  Really looking forward to talking to her about my food journal and see what kinds of things she can offer me.  Also, Friday we're going to see Monster Trucks, lol.  Hubby got free tickets and we got a big group together to go.  Saturday we're going to see RENT!!! YAY, can't wait.  It's my first time seeing it so I'm super excited.. love the theater!


1. What time did you get up this morning? Alarm goes off every weekday at 7:15 am

2. How do you like your steak? Medium

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? The Lovely Bones, good book, good movie!

4. What is your favorite TV show? Biggest Loser, Survivor, Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Modern Family... oh my.  I DVR EVERYTHING though.. watch it when I'm free.

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? I suppose I *could* live anywhere in the world but I choose here... Madison, WI.  My family is close enough and far enough away for comfort! :)

6. What did you have for breakfast? Leftover breakfast casserole (sausage and eggs) that we were sent home with from FIL's bday party.

7. What is your favorite cuisine? Japanese!  YAY sushi!!

8. What foods do you dislike? Onions.  BLECH.  I CAN taste them even when you say I can't, too.

9. Favorite place to eat? A good sushi bar or steakhouse, I suppose.

10. Favorite dressing? Raspberry Vinaigrette or French if that's not an option.

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive? Chevy Trailblazer, 2007, Red, mine.  Chrysler 300C, 2008, black, hubby's.

12. What are your favorite clothes? Basic stuff.. jeans with a solid or lightly patterned top.  Cami with a sweater, etc.  I'm a simple girl.

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? I would love to see so many places!!  Australia, Switzerland (been there once, it's beautiful), Mexico, sooo many more!

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? Full

15. Where would you want to retire? I'd love to have a winter home when I retire, somewhere warm.  Then still live in this area spring through fall.

16. Favorite time of day? When the hubby comes home for lunch! :)

17. Where were you born? Racine, WI

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? Baseball

19. Bird watcher? Nope

20. Are you a morning person or a night person? I prefer to see sunlight than dark so I suppose morning but I don't wake up nicely. ;)

21. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? Not at this point.

22. What did you want to be when you were little? A teacher.  Still want to!!

23. What is your best childhood memory? Spending weekends at my cousins' house on the lake.  Swimming, ice skating, 4-wheeling...

24. Are you a cat or dog person? 100% cat person.  Grew up with dogs but I just don't like their smell and maintenance LOL.

25. Are you married? Yuppers!  09/03/05 was our big day!

26. Always wear your seat belt? Always. Always! ALWAYS!

27. Been in a car accident? Once, by myself.  Hit a tree on the first snowy day of the year when I was 18... been scared of snow driving ever since. :(

28. Any pet peeves? Pouty lip self-portraits.  We know you think you're cute, get over it.

29. Favorite Pizza Toppings? hawaiian pizza!  canadian back w/pineapple!

30. Favorite Flower? roses, red :)

31. Favorite ice cream? I'm not a huge ice cream fan but when I get it I like mint chocolate chip.

32. Favorite fast food restaurant? Noodles & CO. or Wendy's

33. How many times did you fail your driver's test? none

34. From whom did you get your last email? Becky :)

35. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Target or a home store where I could remodel my entire home!

36. Do anything spontaneous lately? pfft.. nope.

37. Broccoli? w/cheese please! or plain with dip.

38. What was your favorite vacation? Probably one of the three trips to Las Vegas... I love seeing theater shows and seeing the sights!

39. Last person you went out to dinner with? Chris' brother and his gf

40. What are you listening to right now? SIRIUS Hits on the tv... Cadence turns it on randomly throughout the day to dance for the baby we watch.  Baby loves it, LOL.

41. What is your favorite color? Pink!

42. How many tattoos do you have? 3

43. Coffee drinker? Yes please but it has to be drowned in flavors, can't be "coffee flavored" if you know what I mean.  I like fancy coffees like cappuccino and lattes.

HAHA, I whine for no reason.

I realize now that there are many reasons to be unfollowed.  Perhaps they started a blog or thought about it and then it wasn't for them and deleted the account all together.  I know who my real people are and I follow them closely and I hope not to lose any of you!!!  :) Dumb post... I'm over it!

Anyways, I'm up two extra followers this morning, haha.  YAY!  I loooove my followers!!  If there's anything anyone wants to know, feel free to ask! :)

Things are going well here.  I hurt my back last night somehow.  I had personal training this morning and she basically just helped me stretch my back out and did some light, light exercises that wouldn't hurt it too much.  I'm running like a fiend lately.  Fiend in my definition is WAY more than I ever thought I would be running.  I guess I really never pictured myself running at ALL but I'm so glad I am.

Cadence is going to a water park hotel with her BFF's family tonight.  We are dropping her off after her gymnastics class and then we'll be free! ;)  We're taking advantage and going to dinner with friends tonight.  We have reservations at a great steakhouse.  Tomorrow we'll be relaxing and enjoying our alone time until she gets back.  Then Sunday we'll go to Chris' dad's house to celebrate his birthday, they're cooking us brunch.

Hope all of you have a fabulous weekend!!  I'm planning on it! :)

Eek, I'm being unfollowed! :(

Sorry, to all my blog peeps if I suck at blogging!!!! :(  I try to blog as often as I can about interesting stuff.  I also do my best to read and comment on as many blogs as I can.  I read ALL the blogs I follow and just don't always comment to save time for reading.

Hope I didn't offend someone or any crap like that.  What a poopy feeling to be unfollowed!! LOL... and how ridiculous, too, that I had to make a whole post about it!!

I have been sick again but I have a NSV to share!!

I have been sick with some nasty cold or something.  I have a ton of buildup of post-nasal crap in my throat.  I cough and cough all night trying to sleep and get it out and then during the day my nose drips all the day long, lol.  I'm a disgusting mess!

I did, however, want to share my NSV that I had recently.  I have been taking my daughter to Kindermusik since she was just a couple of months old.  It's a music class that involves the parent/caregiver a whole lot.  This week we did a song where we have the kiddo on our laps and then fall back so the kid's on our chest/stomach and we throw our feet in the air!  Well, we've been doing this in class forever and I could never get back to a sitting position without pushing off the ground with my hands.  Keep in mind my daughter hasn't gotten any smaller.. she's 50 lbs now.  I did it! :)  I rolled back up to a sitting position with Cadence on my lap still and did NOT have to push off the floor!

So what does this say?  I've gotten MUCH stronger!  In the beginning of classes (when C was only a few months old) I would blame my c-section... cuz you know, they cut through those muscles.  That can only go on for so long!  Now, I managed to do this fun thing with my daughter and not just once but THREE times!  I was smiling for a long time after that! :)