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Looking for a mentor/support before surgery.

Husband is saying that they are planning to release him tomorrow. Weather prediction for tonight thru tomorrow is bad. Ice right now covering roads where he is. Clear where I am and raining 30 min south of me. I don’t really want to make the drive. I feel so worn out. Today I worked on floors and getting recycle and garbage out. Plus I went and got my new lenses in my glasses. Did get the storage bins and some cleaning wipes yesterda. Put my bicycle chain on the snowblower attached to the 4x4 on the porch. Been doing research on denim rag quilts to use up his pants with holes in them. May also make a couple of denim purses with the upper part of the jeans. So many ideas. Still waiting to hear from person who knows owner of thrift shop. Thinking of using parts of old tshirts for the back side of the denim quilt. Well that is the update. Have fun be safe.
 
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Roni said:
Husband is saying that they are planning to release him tomorrow. Weather prediction for tonight thru tomorrow is bad. Ice right now covering roads where he is. Clear where I am and raining 30 min south of me. I don’t really want to make the drive. I feel so worn out. Today I worked on floors and getting recycle and garbage out. Plus I went and got my new lenses in my glasses. Did get the storage bins and some cleaning wipes yesterda. Put my bicycle chain on the snowblower attached to the 4x4 on the porch. Been doing research on denim rag quilts to use up his pants with holes in them. May also make a couple of denim purses with the upper part of the jeans. So many ideas. Still waiting to hear from person who knows owner of thrift shop. Thinking of using parts of old tshirts for the back side of the denim quilt. Well that is the update. Have fun be safe.
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Is he back at Barnes St.Louis? Not being rude but please don’t come in town today. The road conditions are deteriorating quickly!! Accidents ALL over the place. I hope they can delay his release til the weekend when the roads and weather are better.
 
Durn life has gotten away from me. Husband is home only spent 2 weeks. They changed his meds from furosemide to torosimide which is easier on the kidneys. They did get him cardio rehab physical therapy. He is finally gaining strength And ability to go walking into stores again.

I am doing well still above 200 but I sold four pairs of pants and bought one Walmart brand “time and tru“ size 18 from thrift store and got a pair of size 16 jeans at same time. 18 fit very comfortable size 16 is snug but they also fit. Since I was at 24 I am feeling very grateful for the progress I have made.

I am still in love with my battery operated tools. Only dreams that my Worx mower had a bigger deck, I have the 14 inch deck and a very big yard. I have already mowed twice (about 2 hours 15 min battery time each run). After mowing the first time I spent a couple of days continuing to clean up the back fence line of the pool yard. Been using the Worx blower vac that I got last year to vacuum the leaves and then the pruner to cut the vines off the back fence. filled two yard bags with sticks and vines. It is starting to look very good in my opinion. others would probably say it is looking better than very good. the weather is creeping very slowly for spring which makes the outside work more challenging. this week after mowing I got the Worx weed eater out to do the edging along driveway north curb and north sidewalk. Still need to do east side curb of house and pool yard. Still need to work along pool fence too Inside and outside. Making progress.

so far but I have gotten two new yard toys. The first is a battery operated tiller to clean up yard in front of house where the dogs play. They have developed a habit of diggings holes. There is a burrowing animal having a great time torturing the dogs while digging along the fence line outside their yard. So I have been getting little here little there done on the days that are chilly but reasonable. got about 2/3 done so far and I have a bag of Kentucky blue grass seed ready to plant in front yard.

the other yard toy arrived today a Ryobi battery operated 6 inch auger. Charging battery to start digging the post holes for the pool deck. the 6 ft by 12 ft pool deck that was supposed to be built last year. Next week supposed to get in the 80’s so tired of rain.

today my son took me to Springfield for Portillo’s for Mother’s Day had a great time. Need to catch up on posts see ya be safe stay healthy.
 
Missed you Roni! Sounds like things are going ok. I know the rain here has been ridiculous!! I’ll be up towards your neck of the woods for a graduation party today. I was up in Hannibal couple weeks ago for my sons bowling tournament. Happy to hear you are having some luck finding clothes. Hope the yard projects go smoothly!
 
3momchaos said:
Missed you Roni! Sounds like things are going ok. I know the rain here has been ridiculous!! I’ll be up towards your neck of the woods for a graduation party today. I was up in Hannibal couple weeks ago for my sons bowling tournament. Happy to hear you are having some luck finding clothes. Hope the yard projects go smoothly!
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Hopes you had fun at the grad party.
 
Very excited 6 of the seven post holes are in the ground. My yard worker was so excited to try the auger. He still had to use hand post hole digger to re adjust the holes for the posts. But the cement is setting over night. He also took the pallet wrap off the pool. I will soon be putting it all together. But first I want to get the landscape fabric, rubberized pavers and patio blocks in place for the pool filter wagon. In the meantime I had to go searching online for the directions for assembling the ladders in and out of the pool. I spent time making sure I had all the pieces ( I do ). I did three 45 min batteries of weed eating. And 4 batteries 45 min of blower vac on edging the side walk. In between doing stuff to help with pool deck, getting battery operated screwdriver, hand held post hole tool, batteries for chain saw. All the fun stuff. Wait I forgot about the cement run for the posts. At the store a lady had vinyl lattice cut I admired the smaller pieces she sold them to me for 5.00 each got 4, she only wanted the bigger pieces. My house is beginning to look great from the outside. Who knows I may get the boards painted for the glider seat on the porch this year. May be moving one of the storage bins under the pool deck. Keeping lawn chair cushions in it. Have ginormous bag to store them in now. They will fit better in the storage bin. Well that’s enough for now. The fun part of outside work is I get my exercise in. May mow again tomorrow.
 
On Mother’s Day I was cutting the pavers to go under the patio blocks for pool filter wagon. Did an opps, cut the tip of my middle finger on my left hand. Got an appt for VA clinic, got a tetanus shot and they looked at the cut. Didn’t let it get me down. My physical therapist saw me said I was looking thinner since therapy. When I got home I went out and mowed all but the pool yard, ran out of battery power. There is always tomorrow to finish. All in all having a good day overall.
 
Goodness, you don't let anything stop you from staying busy, do you? I jammed knuckle today while working in the yard and that meant work was done for the day!! Although since it was my middle finger, I have really enjoyed showing everyone how red and swollen it is LOL
 
missyinacage said:
Goodness, you don't let anything stop you from staying busy, do you? I jammed knuckle today while working in the yard and that meant work was done for the day!! Although since it was my middle finger, I have really enjoyed showing everyone how red and swollen it is LOL
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Oh missy I feel it I really do. Lol. Base boards for holding the deck boards went on the posts this afternoon. I am so excited.
 
Well I know this is a long thread but it is my story in one place. The deck portion is done. A couple of tweaks that are not perfect but it is functional sorta. The ladder I had for the pool did not account for over the edge of the pool and the railroad ties that had the sand base under the pool. So have to build a landing for the ladder. 4x4 and then add a ramp. Yard worker has been scarce since the deck portion is finished. Managed to get husband out yesterday we got the frame for the landing done together, I felt really really good about that. I shocked the water over the weekend. Now I need to finish the fill and vacuum out the small amount of algae from the week of 80 degree weather. Well things to do at the deck will check back in soon.
 
I really do look back and check on things which does help. It keeps reminding me how far I have come. Had another run to the hardware store for the dividers for the deck boards. Been cool and rainy lately so I am not progressing as fast as I want to. But I will get there. Yesterday I used the tiller to clean up the ground for the ramp. Placed the landscape material pavers then two of the four patio blocks. Heavy buggers 16 inches square. The yard worker made a ramp frame gonna need a few tweaks but I put it in place to get the feel of it. Did some ramp searches to see if there were better ideas out there. Time to get my day started.
 
Been really busy. I did get the deck boards in place and secured down yesterday. Today I worked on the ladders. Finished the afternoon with learning to use a skill saw ( never used one before) to cut the angle for the ramp. Used chain saw (old hat at this) to cut the 4x4 to attach to the ramp sides. My yard worker made a small ramp so I am gonna put it with my sides and 4x4 posts right height. I laid out the top boards for fit and I get to work on it tomorrow weather permitting. With that done I can put railings up and then vacuum pool and set up the filter. Goal June 1 st to open. I am so ready. Oh yeah I am going to make covers for the noodles they are disintegrating and I hate that stuff in the pool
 
Roni said:
Been really busy. I did get the deck boards in place and secured down yesterday. Today I worked on the ladders. Finished the afternoon with learning to use a skill saw ( never used one before) to cut the angle for the ramp. Used chain saw (old hat at this) to cut the 4x4 to attach to the ramp sides. My yard worker made a small ramp so I am gonna put it with my sides and 4x4 posts right height. I laid out the top boards for fit and I get to work on it tomorrow weather permitting. With that done I can put railings up and then vacuum pool and set up the filter. Goal June 1 st to open. I am so ready. Oh yeah I am going to make covers for the noodles they are disintegrating and I hate that stuff in the pool
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You’re a busy bee!! Hope you’re taking pictures of all your hard work!
 
I think I finally found the way to upload a picture it finally let me resize this. Today I had appt with VA Move/Bariatric dr by video. Bad news is I weighed 11 pounds heavier than two weeks ago. After talking with dr, it is determined that my eating schedule is off and I was missing meals and adding the food too late to catch up at end of day. We both agree the stress I have been under to get deck built before permit expired was part of the problem, in addition to keeping the regular yard work up to date and the plan is to get meal/snack times back on track. Part two is to weigh in at two weeks and see if there is a difference without the stress. I still need to paint it but the permit is completed in time. The weight gain is a set back but not the end of the world. In between raindrops I finished the railings today. Picked up the tools and put them away and stacked the misc wood pieces. Later i skimmed the cottonwood seeds from the surface of the pool. Then I set up the hose on the leaf vacuum for tomorrow. After I vacuum I should be able to hook up the pool filter and then spray the chemical (has to sit for 24 hours) to finish the clean up of the pool on Friday. I have so many pics to share.
 

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Roni said:
Hi I am Roni. I have been in the Move program at the VA in IA City IA for three years(actually longer). It is required before referring for bariatric surgery. Dec 3 I will meet with the surgeon to determine if I am eligible. Initially I was more interested in weight loss by medication, that had some obstacles but I was able to overcome them. I eat a lot of sweets when I am stressed( was really bad at last location I worked..gained almost 100 pounds) I am retired now. I have been on a 1500 diabetic diet log since July. I have lost 14-15 pounds since July to now. I have serious pain in my left hip and I have trouble walking. Exercise is a challenge. I am hoping things will be less painful when I lose some of this weight. now I am to meet with the dr. Spoke with psychiatrist for the second time yesterday, she likes how I am putting effort and research into my journey. I explained to her I recognize this as a commitment and there is no pedaling backwards down the road.
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Welcome! You would definitely find alot of support on here. I havent had my surgery yet, but in the process of getting the surgery. I didnt have any requirements to meet for my insurance, but the only the only requirements I have is the ones that my physicians required of me before he perform the surgery. Which is basically whatever test or labs I have to get done. As of now I have to get a EGD done which im schedule for, nutritions appointment to go over the pre-OP and post-OP diet which I have been schedule for already as well.. I have been accepted in the bariatric program at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. I'm very ready and excited that I have started the process, but also nervous at the same time. I always get nervous when it comes to any procedures. Just stay focus and be mentally and physically prepared then everything should be ok.
 
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