Okay, who's messin' with my scale?

This is just crazy! I mean, I knew the weight comes off fast, but come on. I hopped on the scale this morning and my wife did the reading, in fact she had to do it twice because she thought her eyes were betraying her, and me, I thought it wasn't nice of her to lie to me. Turns out her eyes and her honesty were true. In just 10 days I have lost a total of 21 lbs. That's a 2 before the 1. Holy crap, that is just crazy.

I don't see any differences in myself yet, however I am wearing a sweater right now that used to look like sausage casing on me and now isn't, in fact, it's comfortable.

My wife and I are going to head to Canadian Tire this morning to get me out of the house for a bit(plus they have a bunch of sales right now and we have some christmas shopping to get done), not sure how long I will last, but I am looking forward to getting out of the house for a bit.

I still get this sharp pain on my left side, right where the muscle was cut(so I guess that is to be expected) and after I have been standing for a while I hurt in a lower spot. I guess this really brings new meaning to the phrase "no pain, no gain" as I need to get out and excercise in order to heal.

My follow up appointment with my surgeon is on Tuesday Dec. 2nd(3 days away) and I am excited to see how I weigh in at the hospital. I will also find out how much longer I will be off work at that point, although he has already told me he did not expect to send me back until after the new year.

l8r

Wayne

Eight Days Later

Eight days ago, I had only been out of surgery for an hour or so at this point, actually I think I came to around 5:30pm in recovery, and it was a heck of a rough start to my new life.

Eight days later, I have ended my pain meds, moved to pureed foods, can manage myself around the house without help and even did some light cooking for the family for dinner today. Not too mention the big one... drumroll please.... I am down fifteen pounds from my Pre-surgery weight.

If I overdo it, I pay for it though, like today, I cooked and went for a walk and am hurting a little when I stand up, so, I sit down :)

I still haven't really felt hungry yet, maybe a little tiny bit today while I was making dinner for the family, but very little.

All the pain I do have is on the left side of my chest below my pectoral(fancy word for boob, who knew:) right at the "big" incision point where I was told the "big" stapler went in.(okay, by big incision, it is maybe an inch and a quarter to an inch and a half long)

I don't think I have mentioned my incisions before and was asked about them. I only had five incisions and they range from half an inch(smallest) to and inch and a half(largest) with most of them being closer to the smaller end than the larger.

Eating and getting my goals in remain my biggest problem right now although last night I finally met my water goal. Yeah me! But my protein is way off and I have to start working on that one.

Well, I hope everyone is doing well, I will blog at ya later,

Wayne

KABLAH

Feeling kind of blah today. Had my usual protein shake for breakfast, skipped my snack cause I just wasn't hungry(Iknow bad)and am trying to force myself up to get a lunchtime thing going. I just don't want to eat anything and it is becomming very hard to tell myself that I have to. I do realize that I do have to, that without the nutrients I will get weak, so I will do it, I just won't be happy about it.

Painwise, I am better today, it's after 1pm and I have not had any meds and feel okay about that. It really does get a little easier each day.

Thank you for all your kind messages, calls and emails, they really do make me feel better. I think it's a bit of a funk I am in is all, "get up, watch tv, walk, computer, walk, bathroom, walk - repeat. These are my days right now and it just is getting a bit trying.

Anyway, I'm done grousing for today, tomorrow is a new day and I know it will be a better one.

Take care everybody,

Wayne

Gloomy day

Well, I went to my uncles funeral today. I took a pain med dose at 8:30 this morning before we left and it lasted until about noon, to bad I was there until 2 though:( It was a wonderful service, so many people cared for him and it was very evident today. I saw a bunch of family I don't see often which was also nice. Afterwards there was a luncheon at the church where the service was and they laid out a huuuuge spread of food, and you know what? Not a single thing appealed to me or made me think "Oh I wish I could have that", nope, my wife grabbed me a 1/2 cup of milk and a spoonful of mashed potatoes and I sat there, sipping and taking the occasional small bite of the potatoes just enjoying my family's company. For the first time in my memory banks, a "luncheon" was not all about the food for me. It was an exhilarating feeling to see how much power I have gained back into my life and the so many better things I can do with my time instead of always concentrating on food.

Wayne

What'd I do? Jinx myself?

I am a little more sore today... not sure if I overdid the walking yesterday, just around the house, but I try to get in more steps each time I do it. I have not had any pain meds since last night at 11pm either, so that probably has something to do with it as well.

Had a good shake this morning, it is kind of a combo of 2 different ones so here is the recipe...

Double CHocolate Peanut Butter Shake

1/2 cup milk
1 scoop Matrix 5.0 chocolate whey
1 package swiss miss sugar free hot cocoa mix
1 tbsn peanut butter
4 large ice cubes

put in the bullet and blast away. It is very sweet but I find it easy to get down and has absolutely no whey taste at all. And better yet, made the way I have here it is 39.5 grams of protein, which can really help you reach that goal. Especially me, since mine is 99 grams a day.

Have my uncles funeral tomorrow, not sure how I am going to pull it oof, the pain levels are pretty high and the funeral is an hour from my home, but I will figure something out. My wife and two oldest kids went today to be with the family as our ambassadors, so to speak.

I guess that's all for now,

L8R

Wayne

3 days Post Op

Today I am feeling a little better than yesterday, in fact I find every hour gets a little easier than the previous one. Yesterday I was able to get in 50 of my 64 ounces of liquid with 44g of my 99g of protein as well.
I am on track to do much better than that today as I had a Matrix 5.0 Double chocolate shake for breakfast - 37g protein - and a 42g protein bullet in my water, of which I have around 20 ounces down so far. My wife is going to pick up some new england clam chowder soup, I will blend it, strain it and drink it for my dinner and that should give me another 12 g of protein or so, getting me pretty close to goal.

The great thing about Dr. Nunn is that he only has you do liquid stage for three days and then you start the puree. I know it doesn't sound like much fun, but it has to be more flavour than just liquids.

Yesterday I was taking pain meds every 4 hours on the dot, today I had a dose at 5am and another at 1pm so that is tapering off as well. I know others that have said they only took a couple doses once arriving home but not me:)

So that was just a little update and I will post more tomorrow or the next day,

Bye for now,

Wayne

Well, here I am!

Hey all,

Well, I am back home now, actually since yesterday, a mere 24 hours in hospital was all it took to rearrange my insides:) The actual procedure was about an hour and a half.

I arrived at Barix at quarter to twelve for my appointed time and sat there for another hour bouncing my knees and basically freaking out. Dr. Nunn was, mostly on time, just a tad bit behind which is not uncommon once the surgery starts. Almost anything can happen once you are in that little room and you definately want the Dr. to take the time to make sure all is good. That is what happened with me as well as once in there, the Dr. Realized I had a hietal hernia that needed repairing as well. A hietal hernia, for those that don't know is when a portion of the stomach starts to "balloon" into the esophogus track. Dr. Nunn was able to pull it out and stick it up so that it is out of my throat. He informed me that this is probably the reason I have had acid reflux for the past decade as well. Huh, who knew!

So I was in quite a bit of pain as I came to around 5pm yesterday and was moaning and groaning to prove it. They upped my morphine dispenser to give me more at a faster rate and that seemed to work. They get you doing the breathing excersises pretty soon, so make sure you practice that before going in, it is very important to help keep your lungs clear. By 9:30pm thay had me up for my first walk... OUCH! But each subsequent one gets a little easier.

The Dr. came in yesterday around 11am to tell me I was good to go and by around 2 pm we left the hospital. Tena had already gone to a wlagreens down the road to get me my vicaden(yummy)pain killer and we were on our way.

The trip home was not much fun and I really feel for those of you that have to travel long distances to leave the hospital. Our drive was only about an hour, but you are very sensitive to every bump along the way(to be honest I am not completley sure Tena wasn't hitting them on purpose, after all she has had three of my children:) )

The night last night was rough, but managable and every hour it gets a little bit easier. I have not had a lot of gas pain(thank god) but pain in a swollen area just below my left breast, apparently this sore spot is a Dr. Nunn special as the "big" stapler goes in here and can sometimes get a little to close to the ribs, causing some bruising.

I am trying to drink my water, although 64 ounces in a one ounce pouch is not going to be easy, but I am not the first to have this done and I won't be the last.

I am hoping to be fit enough to go to my uncles wake on Sunday, it is actually scheduled for tomorrow and sunday with the funeral on Monday, but I think tomorrow is too ambitious of me. I will try for the evening session on Sunday and will definately attend the funeral Monday, no matter how much pain I am still in.

All in all, it has been a painful experience so far, but I know that in a little time I will be starting to feel like my old self and can get back into the swing of things.

Thanks so much for all your phone calls and emails with words of encouragement, they mean so much to me.

Take care for now, now I need a nap:)

Wayne

Today is the day

I wasn't originally planning on posting today but thought, since I was awake, and awake a good while at that, I would post a little something.

I got a phone call last night from my mom, at first I thought she was just calling to wish me luck before today but it turned into more than that. My uncle passed away yesterday from a percieved heart attack. It is a blow to our family and to me personally as he has been in our family (married to my moms sister) from my earliest memories. He was a great power in our family, always with a kind word and a gentle heart. He leaves behind three great kids, my cousins, the youngest of which is only 16 years old. My aunt is a strong wooman but this will be a very difficult time for her and I really feel for her.

My uncle was only 50 years old, just turned actually, this past monday which makes it even more sad and I will sorly miss him.

I don't want to make light of his passing but I must admit that hearing the news last night, after processing, I realize that this journey is more important than ever. I don't want to be 50 years old and leaving my kids behind or my wife for that matter, not that he did mind you, but I have the opportunity to turn my life around before it is too late, and that is just what I plan on doing. The funeral will most likely be this saturday, which will be tough and painful to attend(both mentally and physically) but I will be there for my family.

I was talking to my sister last night after we found out and it just brings back so many memories and emotions from when we lost our father 8 years ago, we really feel for our cousins and aunt and know what they are going through.

I'll miss you uncle Guy, rest in peace.

Almost there now!

Well, it's getting real close now. Tomorrow is the big day, but today, wow, no fun at all.

My lovely wife, Tena, made me a couple bowls of jello before heading to work this morning, so I have that, some broth, no sugar added dole popsicles and water to choose from today. I have been drinking a lot of water trying to keep my stomach full and then when I get hungry(like all the time so far) I am trying some jello to "fill the void".

As per the hospital instructions I took 2 dulcolax laxitives at 10am, nothing happening there yet, thank god, I am not looking forward to that:)

All seems to be set for tomorrow, we will be leaving the house right after dropping the kids at school(they go to the neighbours after school and stay until friday) to make sure we allow for the border if they pull us in or ask us a bunch of questions. I figure, if I have to wait around here, whats the difference if I wait around in the hospital, at least I will be there already.

So take care everybody, I am sure it will be a few days before I am able to post anything, I'll see you on the otherside!

Wayne

The Two Week Freak

So the two week freak isn't limited to just two weeks before surgery I am finding out, in fact it seems to escalate as you get closer to the date.

I had a great week in Toronto last week, and luckily have some spillover work to get done in the next couple of days, not too mention things around the house that need doing before "the big day". I am hoping I can keep myself occupied and the old mind busy enough to not think about it too much beforehand.

So my wife has decided, after talking to my mom, that it might be better for her to get a hotel near Barix Wednesday night and stay over. I tend to agree as I don't want her driving home in the dark from so far away. If all goes well, fingers crossed, I will be home again sometime Thursday, probably towards evening I would imagine as my surgery start time is so late in the day.

I made a shake this morning using Matrix 5.0 Vanilla(available at Barix and probably GNC) and I have to say it wasn't too bad. I am not a huge vanilla fan but I added some frozen strawberries to a scoop of the protein powder, the milk and tossed it in the magic bullet for a few seconds. Taste was pretty good, very smooth compared to any other protein powders that I have tried to date. Of course you still have that "taste" to get used to, not sure if I ever really will, but I'm gonna try.

I may or may not post tomorrow, not sure what is happening, I may try and spend a good portion of the day at the gym, walking and swimming, just trying to keep my mind occupied, so we'll see.

Wayne

Well, well, well

I'm back from Toronto, I actually got home around 4 o'clock yesterday, in time to go to the gym with my family for family swim night! Yeah, an echo'ee room with 50 screaming kids jumping and splashing:)

Today I have a meeting in the morning and then I am off to see the new James Bond movie, I am quite the bond freak and I really wanted to see it before my surgery, so this will be my last movie theatre memory pre-op.

I am really appreciative of all the emails I have been receiving with words of encouragement, you folks are wonderful. One in particular was asking about the exact tests done at PATs, I checked my "returned from PATs" post and realized I didn't handle that very well.

At PATs, tests are conducted to make sure you are "fit" for surgery and have nothing wrong with you that would make surgery a further risk to your health. The tests vary from person to person, but I can tell you what I experienced.

Upon arrival and check in, I was brought back to sign a bunch of forms and for them to get a copy of my OHIP(insurance) card, then was whisked off to a little room where a very tiny oriental woman took 6 vials of my blood. As soon as that was complete, they brought me into another room and a nurse took my vitals and weighed me, then put me in a room and went through my medical history. (You do your medical history several times at Barix and I think it is a built in redundancy to make sure they get it all) Then I went off to a one hour Nutrition class that my wife attended with me, then back to another room to wait. Once there, they took me for my Ultrasound, to check my Gallbladder, after that I was seen by the respirologist and given a device to work on breathing exercises with, she also drew my blood gasses at this point. Finally the Dr. came in(not the surgeon, a GP) and she finished clearing me for surgery, kind of a mini physical was done here and then I was told I was good to go and free to leave.

It is important to note that this was how MY PATs went and yours may go very differently, based on your co-morbidities they may require other tests, for example, I didn't have an EKG at Barix, but my family Dr. had me have one and faxed the results to them, same happened with an xray. Some people require an endoscopy, others may require something else. The point is, the testing is very individual, they only thing for sure is that it lasts about 4 - 5 hours.

Well, I hope that helps, sorry to the post-ops who have already done this and didn't need to read about it again:)

L8R Wayne

5 days to go!

Hey there Bloggers!

Well, 5 days until the big day, I am still in Toronto, had a wonderful evening at my cousin's place, not too far from my hotel. We had a nice dinner and then afterwards I told them all about my surgery and decision to do this and they were so supportive, it was great!

I also talked to my wife tonight and she told me they called from Barix and I have to arrive at 12 noon on Wednesday the 19th. I kind of wished it would have been a morning surgery but hey, beggars can't be choosers right?

Tomorrow I will head out from Toronto and make the 4 1/2 hour drive home, hopefully I will get away shortly after lunch to beat all the bad traffic, this city is CRAZY with traffic.

That's it for me, beddie bye time, night all.

Wayne

Just a Quickie

Just a quick post this morning, I was up late last night working and have to head to work very soon, but I thought I would just drop a quick line to everyone to say hello.

I am now seven days away from surgery! That, to me, is incredible, it feels like only yesterday that I was walking into Barix for the first time, wondering what this place could hold for me. Who knew at the time that it would be the start of a journey that would lead to a whole new life for me?

Excited and nervous, those are my feelings at this point, talk to you folks later,

Wayne

In the big T O!

Hey there everybody....

Well, I made it into Toronto today, am going to be here for the week working. It's a really nice change of pace from what I normally do, and I love it, love every second of it. It would be my dream job full time, but alas, I don't think that is in the cards for me, but here's dreamin'.

Got a hold of my cousin today that lives in Toronto and we are going to do dinner on Thursday with his family and one of my Aunt's. This side of the family I don't get to see very often and I think I will tell them what is going on with my surgery as they have not heard about it yet. I am really looking forward to seeing my cous and hanging out with him for the night, we only see each other once every few years so it should be a good time.

I am trying to answer all my emails for you, but honestly, I never knew that many people were reading my blog, I only have 13 followers as of today, but I am getting a lot of email questions from more than them so I will do my best to answer those questions as soon as I can. Remember though, I am no expert, everything I have learned was gotten online, that's not to say I won't answer you, just letting you know. I do enjoy reading your emails and comments and responding to you all, so thanks for continuing to come by and have a great night!

Being away from home makes the working out tough, but luckily the hotel I am in has a great gym and pool area, which I am going to make use of tonight and then again in the morning.

L8R

Do-Be-Do-Be-Do (like the song:) )

Well my wife and I joined a gym yesterday before I went into work for my last shift. It's a nice little gym we have about a 3 minute drive or 15minute walk from our house, so it is very convenient. In fact I am an alumni, although not for a few years, during one of my dieting phases I gave it a try.

Anyway, tonight we went for our first workout, and I have to say I feel.... errr... pain, okay, I feel pain, in my legs, ouch! I think they hurt now, wait until the morning. I only did a short workout, but for a guy who hasn't worked out since the Reagan administration in the states it is a little difficult to get started.

So I started off on the treadmill and did that for 25 minutes, which I am pretty proud of, and I did it at a moderate pace of 3.0(whatever that equates to I don't have a clue) While my DW started jogging on hers. HUH! Jogging, that bi$%h! lol :)

After my 25 minutes, which my legs were burning after the first ten and I endured thinking the burn would subside(it didn't) I did 10 minutes on the stair machine. That thing was sent to earth by the devil, seriously I think satan himself designed the friggin' thing, talk about an awkward, painful experience, but I made it through. And I almost didn't pass out either, well okay, not really pass out, just seeing little black dots for a couple of seconds, nothing to get too excited about. The important thing is I got my heart rate up, and I did it, I really did it. I didn't just think about doing it, I actually went out and, yeah, I know, you get it.

So tomorrow I am planning on going back and torturing myself a little more(as long as my legs co-operate anyway), I have been reassured by several people that it gets better, and at some point you actually look forward to doing this to yourself, well here's hoping.

L8R, Wayne

Last Night in the "Big House" till January!

Last night I put in my last shift until the new year. I was on afternoon shift and next week I am away for some training in Toronto, then I am into surgery week.

The week of my surgery I have the Monday and Tuesday off (for pre surgery issues) and then it's under the knife on Wednesday the 19th. Dr. Nunn has told me that he is going to keep me off of work for six weeks due to the nature of my job which puts me back in the plant around the middle of January. I am both nervous and excited right now, it will be nice to have the healing time post surgery but it sure is getting close, it's kind of a nervous/excitement feeling knowing that surgery is only 11 days from now, to think about how different my life will be is just staggering.

Food has ruled my life for so long, I am lucky to have other hobbies to occupy my newly aquired free time with.

Wayne

It's another day

So yesterday I was feeling anxious and neither my wife or myself could figure out why. Nothing had changed, our lives did not miraculously evolve overnight into something else. So what was it? It was a true mystery. Then tonight(or I guess yesterday now, at this hour)I was at work, and I brought the Barix "bible" that they give you at PATs(It is a how-to for eating correctly, starting of course with the full liquid stage). Anywho, while I am reading the "bible" I start to get this anxious feeling in the pit of my stomach, a true "butterflies" moment, and then it hits me. The reason I have been so anxious is because I passed my PATs. That may sound silly, in fact it doesn't even sound right when I read it back, but it is true.

I am nervous, not about the surgery, but wondering if I can do it. This is lifechanging, am I truly ready for it? The last thing on earth I want is to go through this and struggle, only to have my Weight come back later in life. I realize that this will be a life long struggle and am trying to find ways to cope with that reality, this blog helps me with that actually.

Although, this may sound like "cold feet" to some, I think it is a normal progression through this process. I did not give myself the opportunity to think too much about after surgery until I knew for sure that I was going to be fit for it, and of course, in my endevour to keep things real out here in blog world, I thought it only fitting that I lay my feelings out there for you to see, errr read.

I know this is right for me, I have done the research, I know the possible complications, I know what things WLS patients can end up with down the road. I am truly ready and in T minus 12 days, it all begins for me. Wish me luck, Wayne.

Results from my PATs appointment

Hey everybody,

I am a little behind in my postings and promise to try to catch up over the next couple of days.

Well, my PATs (Pre-Admission Testing) appointment was November 4th and I passed with flying colours! Everything went really well, all my blood work came back good, my blood gases(ouch, that one hurt)were good, the Dr. that does the clearances said that other than my weight, I was a healthy guy. I have really high hopes that once I get things under control I will be able to stave off some of those things I have been fearing(eg. heart disease, diabetes, etc.) So we are officially a go for Nov. 19th.

On another note, I posted the chicken marsala recipe the other day and finally got a chance to try it, and here is my review of it...

Chicken Marsala Review

The seasoning that you coat the chicken with adds a nice flavour to otherwise bland poultry, my only suggestion would be to "pound" the chicken a little to flatten it out so it is not too thick, I think this would have added to the flavour a little as some pieces did not seem very well seasoned, but upon further inspection, they were just really thick pieces of the breast meat. Pounding the chicken to flaten it out a little would have definately overcome this.
The Marsala sauce is quite nice with no alcohol taste at all, I added a little lemon juice that I sqeezed from a fresh one I had lying around in the kitchen and I think it added a nice little zip to it. I did not thicken the sauce as stated in the recipe that you can, and I think if I make this recipe again I will do that so it is not quite as runny.
My only negative critique of the dish is that, because it simmers in the sauce for a while, the coating becomes rather mushy which I did not care for, texture wise.
All in all it was a good meal, low in calories and fat(I used Becel butter flavour spray instead of pam to coat the pan while cooking) and good tasting. I would give this a 3.5 out of 5 stars for flavour and a 4 out of 5 stars for ease of preparation.

'till next time,

Wayne

Product Testing Starting Soon!

I told you the other day that I picked up a variety pack of protein supplies from Barix, well, I figure if I have them, I might as well review them all, so starting sometime this week I will be trying these different products and posting my reviews of them.

Stay tuned!

More Recipes!

Hey Everybody,

So I have received a few emails asking me for more recipes and I am going to get started on that soon, for now though, here is a recipe that was posted on the Barix Connection website by Christine. It is a Chicken Marsala recipe that I am trying out tonight, so today the recipe, tomorrow the comment on how it turned out:)

Marsala wine is not available everywhere in Canada, but if you tell the person what you are looking for they will find you the equivalent. I am using a Sherry that is made in the Niagra region as I went to the wine store in Zehrs and they only carry Niagra region wines, this is the one the gave me as a substitute. I will figure out the calories and either edit them in here or post them with my comments on flavour tomorrow. Without any further babbling, here is the recipe...

Chicken Marsala
1/4 C flour
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp oregano
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 c sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup Marsala
1 tsp butter flavoring

Mix flour, garlic salt, pepper, oregano together and dredge the chicken through it.

Liberally spray skillet with either butter flavored or olive oil flavored Pam. Heat pan on Med. Cook chicken for 2 minutes, respray pan, flip chicken and add the mushrooms. Stir mushrooms so they don't burn. Cook chicken for 2 minutes on this side.

Pour the wine over the chicken and mushrooms. Add the butter flavoring. Cover skillet and cook on low for 10 minutes. If you want the sauce thicker, mix 1 Tablespoon cornstarch into 1/2 cup chicken stock. Remove the chicken, increase temp to medium and stir in the cornstarch mixture. It will thicken quickly so stir. Once it is thick enough, put the chicken back in.

Just 2 days left!

Well, it's Sunday night, just sittin' around the house today, nothing much happening except oh yeah, 2 freaking days! The day after tomorrow is my PATs, I am getting very excited both for this day and the one that follows 15 days later! I have been trying to drink my 64 oz of water a day lately, and have been doing okay with that, but I don't think I am losing any Weight. I try to eat mostly protein, in fact I bought a sample pack of different items while I was at Barix visiting Mark a couple days ago.
Not sure what my problem is with the protein powders, other than the fact that I am a gagger. No seriously, I have actually seen at the dentist, the hygenist, on her paperwork has "gagger" written on my chart. I just can't get past the idea of the shakes, I haven't tried them or smelled them or anything yet, but I still get the heebie jeebies at the thought of them. That's why this sample pack was kind of cool, it has these protein bullets that have 42g of protein and come in a variety of flavours, the one I got is a fruit punch that by itself is a little extreme and had my lips puckering when I tried it, but it does dilute in water nicely.(Thanks for the idea there Mark!)
So, I am anxiously awaiting my "kick at the can" and hope that the PATs go good and they don't see any reason for me to not have the surgery. All in all it has been a fairly boring weekend, but the week is going to get more exciting!

L8R All

Yesterday Halloween, Today Christmas!

Hey everybody, so here is a shot of my two boys last night for halloween, Colin, the 8year old is in the Skeleton costume and Aidan the 5 year old is Batman. My daughter Kaitlyn is posed with her friend "Beanie" Kaitlyn is the one with the wig, dressed as "Bride of Dracula" mohaha(a moohaha, just felt appropriate there)

So Halloween is over and today is Christmas:) It may seem weird but my inlaws leave for Texas for 5 months on Nov. 5th so this year our Christmas with them is Nov.1st, today. It should be a good time, my Mother In Law makes a great dinner and my wife does all the desserts, there are about 16 of us there today, it makes for a nice time. And hey, this way I actually get to eat my xmas dinner, not drink it through a straw like I will later next month!

L8R, Wayne