Weight Loss and Gastric Bypass

Yesterday I weighed in on the digital scale at the YMCA.  I use that one for my weight loss.  My surgeon's scale gives a different weight, my PCP's scale weighs heavier.  So for practical purposes and my sanity, I mainly go by the Y's scale.  Yesterday I weighed 255.9.  When I had my surgery on August 22, 2012, I weighted 301 pounds.  So that is almost 50 pounds in 3 1/2 months.  But the real story is that I am not sure how much weight I have actually lost since my highest weight.  That is because the school nurse's scale did not go above 350 lbs.  I have no pictures from that time.  I hate having my picture taken at that time, an avoided it like the plague.

So, unofficially, almost 100 pounds lost.  I lost 50 pounds after I lost my right kidney to cancer.  I had decided to try to eat more wisely than I had in the past.  The problem is that I have historically been unable to maintain or continue loosing weight over time.  Hence, after my mother left me some money, I used it to jump though the hoops erected by my insurance company to have a gastric bypass.  This has not been the easy way out, but a last straw to keep from dieing earlier than I should.  This hasn't been easy, it is not simple, and I will have to live with it for the rest of my life.

A Matriarch has passed.

Last night my Aunt Marie passed away.  At ninety years old it took lung cancer to take her down.  She was my mother's oldest sibling.  In a family of five girls and one boy, she stood out as the one, in my mind, with the power and strength to lead.  Born in the early 1920s, she grew to adulthood during WWII.  Aunt Marie retired from Fort Omaha.  Though she was the smallest in the family, I have no problem envisioning her bossing solders on the job. 

I remember the irises she used to collect and grow at her house.  The iris always brings to mind my mother and her sister Marie.  Uncle Art and Aunt Marie used to have more than their share of family gatherings at their house.  The cookouts and baseball games in the summer.  The Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter dinners they took turns hosting with the rest of her sisters and their families will always be well remembered. 

One of my favorite memories is one baseball game played in their very large yard.  Everyone participated.  The three Uncle Toms all played.  To differentiate between them we called them Uncle Tom Tom, the only boy amongst the five sister,.Uncle Big Tim, my aunt June's husband, and Uncle Round Tom, Aunt Claire's husband. 

Mother turns grief into help for other new parents

Posted: Jun 08, 2012 4:56 PM CDT Updated: Jun 08, 2012 5:03 PM CDT

Reported by Josh DeVine - email

NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) - The grief of losing a young child means a new mission to attack a terrible problem in Tennessee.
Perry Williams died in his crib just about 5 months into his life.
A stray blanket may have been to blame, and Friday, on the baby's first birthday, his mother - a Brentwood EMT - is intent on playing a part in a statewide solution.
Tennessee has the third-highest rate of infant mortality in the country, and that includes Katherine Williams' son, Perry.
"Today is my son's first birthday," Williams said. "You would do anything to be able to rewind the clock and go back."
Perry died in the crib in early November. In her grief, Williams developed a mission.
The SleepSack Project aims to promote the best information for new parents.
"I don't call it prevention. I call it risk reduction," Williams said. "I want parents to know that they have done everything possible."
Now, she donates her time and money with six hospitals to promote the one thing that might have made a difference for Perry.
"If I can make just one parent not have to go through what I did, because that, it's your worst nightmare. But the problem is you never wake up," Williams said.
It might just be catching on. At Baptist Hospital, for example, every new parent will get a lesson on how to use a SleepSack as a means of trying to cut that sobering statistic in Tennessee.
"And in healthcare, for someone who turns around what they do and really wants to give back is huge," said Donna Darnell, with Baptist Hospital.
Friday, nurses at four area hospitals gave new parents the SleepSacks that Williams purchased.
Each featured Perry's picture.
New mother Bethany Romkee received one after giving birth Friday morning.
"You hate to hear any parent lose a child. And that was one of our fears. We do know that children, all of us, are in God's hand, but we can take the precautions," Romkee said.
And that gives meaning to a loss for Williams and too many other moms in Tennessee.
"You don't just get better. It's something that you learn to live with. And you try to find meaning for your child's life," Williams said.
Baptist Hospital officials said they plan to implement its SleepSack program in the coming weeks. The state recently took on this issue of infant mortality, as well.
For more on the SleepSack Project and resources for new parents, visit: http://www.firstcandle.org/ or http://safesleep.tn.gov/.
And to contact Katherine Williams, email: williamsk913@yahoo.com.
Copyright WSMV 2012 (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.

More From WSMV

Perry's Obituary.

Perry's Memorial. With love from Mommy (Katherine D. Williams).

by Katherine D. Williams on Friday, November 11, 2011 at 9:03pm

In this life we often wonder if we matter. Perry’s accomplishments in his obituary were very short and read:” Perry Bryce Williams was born on June 08, 2011. He was a happy baby, and well loved.” But although he was here for a short time, he did matter.

Perry began life as an answer to many prayers. He was wanted and cherished. His Sister Emily would talk to her brother before he was born, and gave kisses to him. In his first pictures, Emily is beaming. This is in spite of the disappointment of God giving her a baby boy.

While in the womb, we began to know him. It became apparent that he was a laid back personality. He would move lazily and only startled at tornado sirens overhead. Emergency sirens and loud noises didn’t faze him. He carried this through in life. He tolerated Dad’s harmonica, while Emily would take it away and hide it.

Perry Bryce began to make his debut at the Brentwood Fire Station Headquarters. Mom was quickly escorted by police car to Vanderbilt Hospital. This was not before making many firefighters nervous, and giving Lt Collins heartburn about his blue recliner. In the minutes after his birth, his Mom and Dad held his hands and wondered at the softness of his cheek as they kissed him. He was lovingly named after his Grandfather and Great Grandfather.

Perry found wonder in sunrays and dancing dust motes. He smiled to almost everyone, but was quicker to loved family members. He marveled at the complexity of his hands and found delight in his reflection. He loved walks in the woods with Dad and Emily and would stare in fascination as the setting sun made light flicker through the leaves above.

Perry was an accomplished traveler with trips to Oklahoma and St. Louis. The latter being his first time to fly in Juliet, Uncle David’s airplane. He would settle quietly in airplanes and protest shrilly in cars.

Perry was delighted by the strange sounds of laughter that bubbled from his own mouth. He greeted his family with hiccups of happiness, and took pleasure at simple needs that we, as adults, take for granted. He was very much a little boy, and leisurely celebrated a great meal or bottle of milk with a huge belch. He hated socks and shoes, but tolerated pumpkin hats and giraffe outfits with good humor. After waking on lazy mornings, he loved snuggling in the rocker, comfortable in his Mother’s or Father’s arms. On the floor, Perry would scoot towards toys with determination and was nicknamed Mr. Wiggles for his physical prowess. He loved to be held or carried and was most content in his carrier against his mother’s chest.

He made his family happy, and caused no harm. He taught those who loved him best to appreciate the creations that may seem ordinary to most. Perry was perfect, beautiful, and happiness.

Perry Bryce will be missed not only for the promise of the good man that he would have become, but for the simplicity of the baby he was. We thank God for the blessing of knowing Perry.

As I waited in Brentwood for Kristin to arrive to take me to the hospital, I was surrounded by many of you because I did not want to be alone. Some waited with me in the locker room, and others who were the doers found chairs to roll me out in, made calls, and stole the infamous shower curtain for the car. A few of you were even in the hospital with me, waiting with me until my husband arrived, or listening for Perry’s heartbeat minutes before he was born. I hope that you will continue to be there for us as you were for the start of his life. In the following time you will not always know what to say or do and that is ok. Just being there is sometimes enough. Please do not avoid talking about him. I want to know that although he was only here for a little while, he did exist and is remembered. Please talk about your children and babies, if I am sad, that is ok, because if I am sad I still remember. Perry was a rainbow baby and I recognize the joy that you take in your children. I am not afraid of the sadness or tears. I am most afraid of forgetting him, and if God is willing, there will only be memories for a long time before we are able to hold him again.

We love you and are thankful for your extreme kindness and support. We could not make it through without you and the belief that we will see him again.

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Absintence Pledge

On my honor, I pledge to make a dent in my yarn stash. To knit or crochet up as many items as I can using existing yarn. Have bags and bags of sock yarn. I think that some of it is begging to be make into fingerless mittens and gloves for Christmas. Maybe a baby or toddler sweater or two. And don't forget socks, lots and lots of socks.

I swear this on my stack of knitting books, magazines, pattern booklets, and individual patterns both in hardcopy and those stored on my laptop. So help me Elizabeth Zimmerman.

Of course, that might not count some lucious, exotic lace weight yarn if I decide to try my hand at some delicate lace.

Shhhhhh, don't tell my son-in-law and daughter how much I have hidden away in closets.

Memoriable Books

15 Memorable Books
Share
Today at 7:50 AM
Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen books you've read that will always stick with you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes. These are in no particular order. Tag some friends, including me because I'm interested in seeing what books my friends choose.
you.

Andre Norton
1. Star Man's Son
2. Beast Master
3. The Witch World
4. Stranger in a Strange Land- Robert Heinline
5. The Halloween Tree - Ray Bradbury
Tolkien
6 The Hobbit
7. The Fellowship of the Ring
8. The Two Towers
9. The Return of the King
10. The Good Earth - Pearl S. Buck
Not sure of the authors
11. The Grapes of Wrath
12. The Columbian Exchange - history
13. The Radicalism of the American Revolution - history
Stephen King
14. The Stand
15. Salem's Lot

Parent Job Description

Received this in an email. I do not know who the author is, but he/she has to have been a parent.

PARENT - Job Description

This is hysterical. If it had been presented this way,
I don't believe any of us would have done it!!!!

POSITION :
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION :

Long term, team players needed, for challenging,
Permanent work in an
Often chaotic environment.
Candidates must possess excellent communication
And organizational skills and be willing to work
Variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends
And frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
Some overnight travel required, including trips to
Primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities!
Travel expenses not reimbursed.
Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES :

The rest of your life.
Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily,
Until someone needs $5.
Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
Also, must possess the physical stamina of a
Pack mule
And be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat
In case, this time, the screams from
The backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges,
Such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets
And stuck zippers.
Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and
Coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings
For clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
Must be a willing to be indispensable one minute,
An embarrassment the next.
Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a
Half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.
Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
Must assume final, complete accountability for
The quality of the end product.
Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and
Janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :

None.
Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills,
So that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :

None required unfortunately.
On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION :

Get this! You pay them!
Offering frequent raises and bonuses.
A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because
Of the assumption that college will help them
Become financially independent.
When you die, you give them whatever is left.
The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that
You actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS :

While no health or dental insurance, no pension,
No tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and
No stock options are offered;
This job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love,
And free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.

Forward this on to all the PARENTS you know, in appreciation for everything they do on a daily basis,
Letting them know they are appreciated
For the fabulous job they do...
Or forward with love
To anyone thinking of applying for the job.
** AND A FOOTNOTE 'THERE IS NO RETIREMENT -- EVER!!!