One less...

I'm supposed to weight myself on Mondays but I forgot and I weight myself today. After a week of trying to diminish the amount of food and drinking the 64 oz of water daily that's 2.5 liters!) I kept the 8 pounds I lost when I was sick plus lost another pound. Woohoo!!!

It's not much but that makes me happy. It shows that if I manage to stick to the nutritionist's program that will start next week I'll loose the 30 pounds before surgery. I think I didn't loose more because I'm not walking and we ate at Burger King and KFC this week. I know this is not good, but when in a hurry and without a lot of money that's the option you have. But even eating out I've modified my eating habits. No more "Super Size", ask for water instead of soda and no apple pie (well, just one this week lol). Kid meals are cool! I love the little plush toys and the dolls, so I'll be asking for them instead of bigger combos. That is IF we eat out.

On another note... I re-opened my Etsy shop and have over 20 great gifts; mostly under $10. Now that winter is near I'm tatting like crazy.

Needle Tatting

It's been so long that I didn't use a needle for tatting that I was thinking I must have forgotten. Well, it's like the saying "Once your ride a bike never forget". I don't know how to ride a bike but I didn't forget how to needle tat. I lost my tatting needles but I found a package of doll needles (very long needles using to make dolls) and took one of them and cut the point and then dulled it. That's the main difference of a tatting needle compared to others. They are very long and don't have a sharp point.

So I took the needle and the only appropriate thread I can use with them is the crochet #10. That's fine with me. I just made this little doodle to practice. Pretty nice, eh? I have to continue practicing, specially the tension of the chains and the size of the picots. Going to make a couple of motifs so I don't loose the skills, but this doesn't mean that I will left my shuttles in a corner. No! I love my shuttles too much.

Bariatric Surgery - Finally!

Cayey, PR

Have you miss me? I have been with my dad in his house where there's NO INTERNET!!!! *gasp* The last week I found a Technology Center and I was able to use the net for limited time but not for blogging.

Anyway, apart of visiting my dad I was starting something very important in my life. A few of you know already and the support is incredible, including husband's! But because now is for sure I'll start talking about it. Early next year I'll have bariatric surgery. I spent around 2 years making research and consulting with my doctors and finally we took the step to go and ask for a consultation. On the 14th was the evaluation. The doctor is really nice and she talked honestly and in details about the 2 surgeries and the pros and cons of each one for my condition. We agreed that the Realize band is the best for me. It's less invasive than the bypass, the weight loss is slower and I won't have to take as much supplements as the other. Plus the recovery time is much less. The surgery will be around February or March.

Meanwhile I will be visiting a battery of doctors (I think all the "ologists"): cardiologist, pneumologist, internist, nutritionist, psychiatrist and hematologist. The hematologist is the most important right now because of my coagulation disorder. The doctor told me that probably I will have to need a small surgery to place a "filter" on my Cava Vein (the main vein that brings the blood to the heart). I have had 3 DVTs Deep Vein Thrombophlebitis) and they need to avoid at all cost another one or could be fatal. So from now on I will have to visit my dad often. At least I'm the one that has the "best" relationship with him and thou we discuss a lot (I think it's just because he's getting the senior's manias) he likes that I stay in his house.

Oh, did I mention that I have to loose 30 pounds before the surgery? Ugh! This will be the fire test. I have never been able to loose more than 15 pounds under doctor supervision. But because now I'm motivated because of the surgery I think I'll accomplish it. No, I won't do any silly diet. I'll be visiting a nutritionist and will follow her directions. Also, now that the pains are diminishing considerably I'll try to use the bike at least 5 minutes daily or as my body stands the pain and discomfort.

What about hubby? I have been talking with hubby about all this and he agrees with me. It's all for my health. He says that he will be patient and will be praying a lot for me and the doctors. He's happy and he keeps joking that he will have a new wife when I returns to Egypt. The new wife been the new me. lol

Well, these are the news for now. I took like 200 photos while at dad's and I need to upload them and then blog about them and also have to update my tatting stuff and the over 3000 e-mails that I have without reading! Ugh! But most of them are trash anyway.

Stormy day

Well it's not raining per se. In fact is a pretty sunny day with a temperature above 90 degrees! It's just that it started in a wrong way.

I haven't blog in awhile because my lil sister Naida was here for 10 days and I was enjoying her company. She at last, has grow up and mature. Got married, civil, and later in April will be the wedding ceremony. She's finishing her certificates in phlebotomy and practical nursing and is looking forward to start a family with his husband. It has been a 360 degree change from a couple of years were she used to cut herself and abhorred the idea of marriage. Thank God for her change! Here is a photo of the happy couple.

Eric never smiles, but Naida smiles for him. She is showing her gorgeous ring that have a pink zirconium in a heart shape between two white zirconiums, also heart shaped. Lovely ring!!!

Anyway, so this morning I finished reading the 2nd book of Harry Potter that I start like 2 years ago and never finished it. And went to pick up the 3rd one that is over the tall computer desk and a lamp fell down. I never imagined that a small light bulb can smithereens into million pieces and spread over a whole 10x10 room. So I had to sweep the floor and that is something I really can do because of my back. So after spending like 30 minutes sweeping the million pieces of glass I had energy enough to prepare a big glass of iced tea, place a Gloria Trevi's DVD ( Mexican singer) and "flop" on the floor. So I won't stand up from the floor until is time to cook dinner.

Meanwhile I'll be singing and probably tatting. Here is a video of Gloria Trevi. I love her because she's wild and a rebel. Just like my lil poor heart. lol This was when she started in the 80's. But has been her greatest hit. She's singing about having the hair wild and that she doesn't care about the society rules.




BTW... The butterfly on the beginning of the post is one that I made a few days ago. The pattern is by Marilee Rockley and it's on her book "Tatting Boutique". I made it using a HDT called "Vibrato" also from Marilee. The are glass beads in shades of purple and peacock blue.

Lydie-Bug Ornament

This week a friend told me that her granddaughter has cerebral cancer. She's only 1 year old and the cutest baby I have seen. I cried so much for such tragedy. The baby, even at her young age is a true warrior. You can read her story and see her precious photos here: CaringBridge / lydianichols / Welcome



Inspired by her I made this ornament. I call it Lydie-Bug, that's her nickname. If you can please add her and her parents on your prayers, meditations or duahs.


You can find the pattern on my eSnips

Coupon: EarlyXmas

Preparing for Xmas? Here is a great opportunity. Free surprise bag when u buy $15! Coupon: EarlyXmas http://bit.ly/qhx9D Exp. 10-13

My Shinny Treasure!

Like a week or so ago I won a contest from Foxy Findings. The prize was a shopping spree worth of $50. Because last week I was at dad's home I didn't know the package arrived until Friday afternoon. These are all the shinny beads I got. I feel like Bead Heaven! lol Now I need to get busy tatting with them. On Thursday Naida arrives for a week to prepare some things for her wedding on April 24th and I'll show her some ideas for the souvenirs. Of course they are going to be tatted by me. Plus I'll be tatting also for my BD on January. It seems that next year will be a very festive one.

Down are some up close pics so you can see better the beads.