Student Loans

I received a check in the mail yesterday from Sallie Mae loans. It appears I have finished paying off my student loans!!! I wasn't sure how close I was getting to paying it off because I don't get monthly statements. I just set up my checking account to send a check every month. Such a pleasant surprise! The extra cash will be used to pay for a night out of Sushi with my bestie Molly! Spicy tuna tower here we come!!

It's a boy!!!

So, just over a year ago my sister had the first grandbaby in the family. Lucy, who turned one in May, is the highlight of my trips back home. I am amazed at how much I love the little one! Knowing how much I love her and care about her safety and well being and knowing that Trish and Matt love her even more and God's love for her is even MORE is very humbling. Having a teeny tiny glimpse at the love of Christ for me makes me want to pursue Him even more!! My sister is also pregnant again and we found out today that she will be having a boy!!! The perfect little family!! I'm sure he will be a little ball of energy just like his big sister. My cup runneth over!!!!

Food Network

I have noticed that the last few days when I first turn on my TV it is on the Food Network. I go through phases where I watch all these cooking shows and I want to try all the different recipes. But then I remember that I am not the best cook. Also, I have a gas stove/oven at my apartment so doing things, like sautee on low heat, are pretty much impossible. With my stovetop the flame is either on or off, there is no hi or low. I guess I will have to continue to live vicariously through the sites of the television.

Whoa...has it really been almost three years?!?!

I can't believe I let my blog go to the wayside...wait, yes I can, that's very typical of me actually! I thought I would at least throw in an update!

So, it has been nearly three years since I had the lapband procedure. It took quite a while to get it filled to a point where I felt I was getting appropriate restriction. Once I got there the weight started coming off a little faster. To date I have lost about 65 pounds. This would probably be a bigger number but I have a weakness for the "cheat foods", sweets, chips, ice cream, etc. Last year I decided to stop getting fills because the band is nearly full (it takes 10cc and I have 9.5cc) And the PA was telling me that, unfortunately, some people just don't have super crazy results. Plus, I decided it was time to start relying on myself to do some more of the work. So I decided to take up running. At first I was doing okay but I had little direction. Then, at the beginning of the year I downloaded the Couch 2 5k app and gave it a whirl. I have done two 5ks and just this last sunday I did a 10k. Granted, I do intervals of walking and running for these races but my time has been a fairy consistent 15 min mile pace. I was surprised to keep up this pace with the 10k but I did! My body has been aching in protest of the 10k but it's a good sore, my knees and hips feel fine. I had also worn my new Vibram Five Finger shoes for the 10k...may have been a bad idea as they have contributed to the soreness. Some of my co-workers are talking about signing up for the 5-man relay at the White Rock marathon in December. I plan on participating in that as well.

The picture is from a recent trip to Brazil. We floated down the amazon river on a big boat and stopped at numerous villages to provide medical, dental, vision, children's, women's and men's ministries. We also got to go alligator hunting a couple of different nights. He's small, but he's my friend!

Well, I think I have bored you all enough for one day! Have a great tuesday

First fill update

So I got my fill on wednesday and while I have noticed an slight decrease in the amount of food I eat, I am not at the point that the band really does it's thing.  This is not unusual though.  I will go back for another fill in about 4 weeks.  The process wasn't too bad, it would have been better if the Doc could have got the needle into the port on the first try.  She used a local anesthetic so it wasn't too bad, I could feel it when she really got to digging but otherwise I couldn't feel a thing! Also I had gained some weight, which I wasn't surprised about and it's not an unusual occurrence either since I was able to eat like I was before the surgery (and believe me I was).  But  lately I have been obsessed with printing off recipes and trying them at home, which has been keeping me from eating out so much!  

My first fill

So tomorrow I go in for my first fill for my band.  For those who don't know the band has a balloon on the inside of it and as the restriction goes down the doctor fills the balloon with a little saline to increase the restriction which in turn decreases the amount of food it takes to feel full and it makes you feel fuller longer.  Since this is my first fill I am a little nervous, I have been trying to slow down when I eat to prepare for this but I haven't been very consistent with this so hopefully I won't make myself sick by eating to fast.  But I am excited about getting this thing going.  I guess sometimes it can take a couple of fills before you start to feel the restriction. I hope this doesn't happen and make me discouraged...I try to write another blog tomorrow or thursday to give you an update on the fill!

If you're ready to rock with the New Kids on the Block....

...Everybody say "OH YEA!!!!"  Okay so almost two weeks ago I had the joy of seeing my childhood obsession in concert!  New Kids on the Block...Oh yes...and might I say, Jordan is still the love of my life.  I went with my good friend Jacque and it was soooooooo much fun!  I saw some girls wearing old old NKOTB shirts that I remember wearing when I was just 12 years old and of course I had to buy myself a tour shirt!  The opening acts were a white girl who said she was from Jamaica (but I doubt it, her accent came and went) and she was laughably bad...it was 30 minutes of my life that I will never get back.  The other opener was Natasha Bedingfield (not sure on the spelling).  She was good, it helps when you know some of the songs though.  Then came the 5 men who stole my heart Donnie, Joey, Jordan, Jon and Danny ...they sang mostly old songs from their wonder years and mixed it with some of the songs from their new album.  Let me say they still have moves and they have only gotten better with age ;)  Lots of costume changes and pyrotechnics are what make their show just like the old days. Coupled with the choreography they put on a fabulous two hour squealfest...of course I lost my voice from singing and screaming the ENTIRE time!  As much fun as I had though, I don't know that another tour is in their future...I mean really, let's be real here...