Two and a half years...and fat photo find

I was messing around with my new computer today (computer issues is part of my excuse list for not being around) anyway, I was mapping to my old two computers to drag the shit ton of music and photos over (and the boring business tax info and crap) When I came across folders and folders of pictures. Some of my kids that I sat and giggled over. Some of our old life in California before the more here to Oregon. Also, some fat photos. Ugh!

I've been getting in the habit of reading blogs again. I should be able to comment soon. I'm headed to Phoenix via Palm Springs next week to see the oldest boy and thaw out a bit. I'm also excited to see one of the cast of Gold Rush (Discovery Channel Show) I'm a big fan and there is a show in Mesa that should be fun to check out. Now, Leaving my animals in the care of my son is a bit scary. He has a child for goodness sake but still?!?!?!?!?

So, upon my return, I commit to re-commit to blog.

There are a few things in the works that I don't have firmed up yet due to insurance and money... go figure. Although I am considered a "band success" by the practice that I go to, my band has not been an ideal tool for me because it reacts to stress. And to be blunt, Stress has been a mother-f'er since the month I was banded. One thing after another! So, I'm am told I can consider the sleeve revision. I am thinking about it. I have been up and down in fill volume by the same .2 ml for a year now. I have held steady in loss for a good year but not without fighting my band most of the time.

I'm thinking about it... I'm pretty much at the end of my road with this. My goal wasn't to get skinny but healthy rather. I am far from skinny but at 98-102 from highest weight and normal Blood Pressure for over a year it feels like an accomplishment. Would 20 - 25 lbs more feel better? I dunno? Could I do it with my band the way it acts? Not sure? My decision will be based on my insurance and their reply as it isn't covered as a WLS but as a revision is considered. I shall keep you posted!


So this being my 2.5 year bandiversary I thought I would share the fat photo find.


2002 - California


Christmas Cruise 2003


June 2004


October 2005



I still change my hair color up often... but these are more current.


June 2011


Dec 2011


~Jen from Oregon

I'm a Grandma & BYOC!

Hello All!
I'm so in love <3
I got to welcome my first grandchild into the world on Wednesday. I even got to be in there while she delivered (which I wasn't expecting) It was such a neat experience. All went well, she is healthy and loved!

"Leena"


I could hold her all day!



I'm done gushing! maybe :)


It's FRIDAY so that means it's BYOC - Bring Your Own Crazy! Brought to you by the one and only Drazil! We answer a couple of questions in an effort to get to know each other better and to give our blogging brains a break! Copy and paste and answer in your own blogs if you'd like!! ENJOY!!

1.Describe the structure you live in. (apartment, condo, house, mansion, cardboard box?)

I live in a house with my husband. It is pretty empty now that the kids are all out. There are 5 bedrooms and three baths. (Four bedrooms and two bathrooms are empty and we rarely even go in) sigh.. We live on a mountain pass and it is quite remote.


2.Describe the city you live in. (population, main attractions)

My address is Wolf Creek, OR but that is just where my mail. It is small. not many attractions. We have a covered bridge, and an old inn and a couple gas stations. Wolf Creek, OR


3. Why do you live in the town you live in? (job, to get away from a different town, family, schools?)

We found the house on the Internet, drove up from California, loved the location. We didn't know anyone here but had come up to buy some equipment for our Erosion Control business and said "We should move here" within a week our home sold in California.


4. What’s the view like from your backyard?

We have 11 wooded acres and a couple ponds. It stays pretty green and is quiet. There are deer that almost always visible.







5. Repeat question: Summarize your week in real life and in blog land.

Real life has been pretty exciting :)

My band is still there, it reminds me every so often. It has taken a bit of a back burner for the moment. But the cool thing is that when I choose to work it again I can. I've been maintaining for months and have more to lose, I'd be happy in a solid 12 which is 5 lbs away. (I'm 5' - 10.5" tall) I've had other things to deal with. I have not given up on my goal but health wise I am so much better.
Blog land has been quiet for me as far as posting and commenting but I do read them!

Hugs~ Grandma "Jimmy" aka Jenn
I picked Jimmy for my grandma name, a play on Jenny & Gram but I am sure I will answer to whatever she calls me!

slacker!

August 18th was the last time I posted? What a slacker!
Just thought I would check in and say hello.

Hello!

Not much to report, weight is steady, band seems to be at a good fill level, It has become such habit/second nature that I forget sometimes. I'm not trying too hard but I am trying to stay aware and in the moment when eating.

We have been working on a cottage house for my son & his girl. Hoping to have it ready for the baby, my granddaughter... little Leena Jean who will arrive in the next couple weeks! I can't wait! There is an ultrasound tomorrow that I am looking forward to.

Well, thought I would do a quick check in and hope to post some baby pictures soon!

xoxo - Jenn

Don't forget to remember me....

OMG! It has been over a month since I've posted? I am full of excuses. My computer blue screened and then my blackberry decided I didn't need the "E" key which was part of my password to unlock it. I switched to an android and hated it so I am back in business. Well, with a new blackberry anyway.

There is so much going on and yet it feels very stagnant. I am over two years banded and things there seem okay I am still a few pounds from goal but have not been obsessing about it as there has been so much other crap going on.

Not sure where I left this in other posts but after months of doctors, trips to Portland VA and tests we now know that my husband suffered four major strokes since Feb. They had thought it was a clot from his heart but have now ruled that out and these are true vessel failures and have happened on both frontal lobes. His personality has changed, his memory is bad, its all a little overwhelming. I use that word a lot, I know! I AM OVERWHELMED!

Every day seems to bring a new crisis either with my kids or him. I haven't had time to address any of my own needs in a long while. Sometimes I forget I have any then the guilt takes over... it is a vicious cycle for sure.

Sun is shining in Oregon. I can't tell you how nice that is. I have never been a sun worshiper but I have been trying to relax in the hammock early in the day and just meditate. I have a little color other that ghostly white for the first time in my life. I know how bad it is for me but I don't care! It makes me feel better. (ask me again in ten years when I am having more spots removed) lol


I am doing my best to keep up with you all. I am in love with Draz's post today. I hope to blog something soon or in more detail about how unprepared I was for the band and how I basically went nuts for a year ;/ all kidding aside, I pretty much did as a result of not being able to medicate with food.

Take care xoxo ~ Jen from Oregon

Love this!

20 questions that could change your life


Sometimes the answers are just too scary to face.

Still Here!

Don't give up on me just yet!

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

~Jen

BYOC! a day late..

It’s FRIDAY – which means it’s BYOC – Bring Your Own Crazy…around these parts. We answer a couple of questions to get to know each other better and to give our blog brains a break. Copy and paste to your own blog if you so desire…and ENJOY!!


1. If you could pick any name on Earth for yourself – would you change yours and what would it be?

*Well being a Jennifer I think I always wanted a different name. I altered mine during the years. Geni is how most of my family addresses me. I love the name Tatum, Texas and Georgia.


2. If you’re a worker-outer…what time do you partake in such activities? There are SO many theories about when it’s best and not best to work out….like the morning is better since you have an empty stomach or the night is not good because you won’t be able to sleep…etc, etc. – so I’d like to hear your theories.

* N/A lol before my schedule got all changed from going back to work and husbands appointments I had an alarm/reminder on my phone that goes of at 10:00am saying MOVE! GET UP! DO SOMETHING! That is when I would hike. Need to restart a routine soon.


3. If you drive a car – what kind is it and if you could drive any car – what would it be?
Currently I have a Toyota FJ cruiser. Total rednecked out with a lift and custom wheels. I love it. I had a GMC Denali prior and loved it too. If I were to buy again I would get another Denali.




4. Can you be totally honest in answering this next question and tell me what you think of tattoos? More importantly – what do you think of the people who have tattoos – specifically women?

*I think its a personal choice. I like well done tattoos. My daughter has a really nice one on the cap of her shoulder (she has to hide it under her uniform) I'm not a fan of sleeves or neck tattoos on women. I want another one but I really want it to mean something to me but things keep changing so I figure it is best to wait.


5. Repeat question: Summarize your week in blog land and in real life.

*Blog land has been a nightmare for me in connecting and commenting. I have tried a few different things and now it seems to have resolved a bit. I'm reading from my phone as I have been in various VA waiting rooms lately but not commenting.

*Real life, what can I say without spinning into Debbie Downer mode. I had my 42nd birthday on Thursday. I spent it at a VA hospital. I have returned to work but am hit and miss due to existing appointments until July where I will be F/T. Feel out of control at the moment trying to settle into a daily routine again. My husband can't drive anymore as he is having seizures so I have been doing a lot of driving lately. Still plotting some sort of mini-escape soon. If not for real at least in my imagination!

M.I.A.

Hope you all are still out there?

I've gone missing for a bit but am back now. I've routinely gone in waves with blogging, facebook and connections with people. No worries, just in unplugged mode.

I have zero restriction from my last unfill which was over a month ago. I go back in a couple weeks and am asking for a "big Girl" fill which I know won't be a problem with where I go. I NEED IT! I haven't gained but I have to watch myself. I know I could take in a lot more than I am.

Temptation is everywhere!

Just wanted to check in and I hope everyone has a great week.

~Jenn

Allergies, Unfills & Stress

My allergies kicked in full gear a month ago and I had been getting stuck daily. I had my first experience with fluro and the funny (yet, not so funny thing)is that I had No visible restriction. This was at a fill level of 9.55! What the fluro doesn't show is inflammation and the guess is I had some. I had .2 removed and have had less issues but still have to be careful. I have been on allergy medication for about a month and am going to wait until the end of May to get a Big Girl fill again as I have some travel plans in the works. Good news is weight is holding steady at least I am not gaining.

I think my kids are trying to put me over the edge. All three are experiencing trouble with wisdom teeth. Really? Wonder if there is a group extraction discount available?

My husband and I received some relieving news about his kidneys. He is in Stage three (of 5) which is bad but the doctor said it would not progress "fast" as long as his blood pressure and blood sugars stayed under control. It still doesn't explain his stroke like symptoms but they are not relating them to kidneys, stroke or his thyroid which have all recently been tested and experts have been seen. The hunt continues for answers but we keep ruling out the really bad stuff I guess its good. Frustrating but the answers are out there somewhere.

I am returning to work for the construction company for a temporary gig at the end of May so that might work out well to help pay for the kids dentist :/ lol Looking forward to a routine even if it is just for a couple weeks.

I feel I am slipping a little into very co-dependent ways. I am aware of it but I struggle for the balance of taking care of me vs. all the others. The guilt seems overwhelming sometimes. As a Mom & Wife I feel like they all are sucking me dry and I feel guilty craving time to re-charge and relax when there are so many things going on. But I have vowed to take off for a few days in mid May and do just that. Time will tell if I actually get off the mountain (or can afford to drive anywhere) Fuel was $4.08 yesterday DAMN!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

~Jen


Just a couple pics from Easter out at our pond.

and the winner is......

"Theresa aka Tessie Rose" if you would email me your mailing address to jenisgonnaloseit@gmail.com I will get it out to you soon!

***(for the record, I assigned your comments to numbers, then had the hubs pick a number...very official stuff)***

Thanks to everyone who commented!

I hope everyone has a nice Easter. We are planning an easy day with the kids and if the weather holds have plans to take some family pictures. That is something we don't have a lot of. Jeremy, our oldest is not here, he lives in Arizona :(

I've got a few updates that I need to blog about soon. Just life keeps throwing roadblocks into my computer time.

Grrr!

~Jenn