LdiSaphire

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So yesterday I was craving fried zucchini and squash...I had several in my fridge so I pulled em out and went to town slicing them into rounds...then I realized crud I can't handle flour...so what do I fry these in...so I started digging around my kitchen and made a mixture of corn meal and kraft grated parmesan cheese...then I mixed up the eggs with some heavy cream since I can't handle milk...seasoned the corn meal/parmesan mixture and started frying...man they were delicious and totally hit the spot...I even decided to see what would happen if I dipped, battered and fried some liverwurst up...wow awesome!!...it was a big hit even with the kids....after all was done I realized I still had a ton of zucchini and squash rounds left...I had gone overboard on the slicing...lol...I also had some of the egg mixture left as well as the cornmeal/parmesan mixture...so after a moments pause I decided to figure out what to do with all the leftovers...here's what I did...

I laid a layer of the corn meal/parmesan mixture in a pan and poured a bit of the egg mixture over it...then I put a layer of zucchini and squash rounds...then I layered on some riccotta cheese and then some pizza sauce(I was out of spaghetti sauce) then I put a layer of mexican shredded cheese and a layer of leftover sausage and mushrooms from breakfast...then another layer of zucchini and squash rounds followed by more ricotta cheese, pizza sauce and shredded cheese...then I poured the remainder of the egg mixture over the top of it all...I put it in the over at 350 degrees for 30 minutes...then I took it out and layered more shredded cheese on top and put it back in 5 minutes just til the cheese was melted....

OMG it was absolutely delicious...the best "lasagna" I'd eaten...the kids came in and said mom I smell lasagna...so they all dished up a plate and chowed down...they loved it...when they were done eating I said did you guys realize there were no noodles in that...they hadn't even noticed...when I told them what was in it they were shocked but none of them freaked out...I had a half a pan left that I put in the fridge last night...tonight I went to get a piece and there was half a piece left...LOL...guess it really was a hit...my husband asked me to make it again when his mom comes over this weekend....this time I'm going to try it with marinara or spaghetti sauce instead of the pizza sauce...it'll be a bit lower carb...but overall this lasagna was pretty high protein/low carb....I'm also going to slice the zucchini and squash into strips instead of rounds....just so it looks more lasagna like...lol

I'm really glad I had leftovers!!!!

I sat down to write this blog and realized how much I had to update...it may take awhile...lol..

Well as my last blog said, I lost my mom suddenly in Aug. of 09, then this Jan., we lost my dad to cancer...again very sudden...we had no idea he had cancer until about 4 weeks before he passed away...my son had surgery twice between Thanksgiving and Christmas...my daughter was hospitalized in Dec...things have been rocky...but we're getting through it..

.I found out a week ater my mom passed that I was approved for surgery.  Things happened so quickly...before I
knew it they had my surgery scheduled for Oct. 1st and the journey had really begun.  I got through my 2 week preop diet without maiming or killing anyone...lol.  Actually it wasn't all that bad...I had no bowel prep required and we headed up to Topeka on September 30th.  My surgery went very smoothly...was only under a couple hours or so...the 1st day after the surgery I was pretty miserable, but things steadily improved and I was released on the 4th.  My recovery
has been pretty uneventful.  A few issues with my stomach and bowels not waking up and moving
very fast, but nothing Reglan hasn't taken care of.  Even today, a little over 5 months out I'm still learning what I can and can't handle.  It seems to vary from day to day.  What I ate yesterday that sat so well, may not sit so well today.  So I just go with it and learn.  I admit early out I dealt with throwing up frequently and even had my share of days where I thought oh lord what did I do to myself.  But those passed quickly and I can truly say now that I LOVE MY DS.  The weight loss has been remarkable.  I'm celebrating this morning because I am not down 101 lbs. Only 10lbs. from goal.  YIPPEE!!...at least my goal.  The Dr's is a bit different..135...but shrug I'm thrilled with where I'm at.  My labs are looking much better finally.  I had a couple issues with my vitamin D, vitamin A and potassium....but after upping the supplements for them, the
labs are coming back up and doing good.  My diabetes is gone, my knees don't hurt to walk anymore, my back hurts less, haven't had a bad fibromyalgia flare up since surgery, I have tons more energy, I'm now wearing a size 12/14 compared to the 24/26 I started out in.  I do have excess skin that will eventually be removed.  I didn't think it would bother me...at least before surgery I didn't...but now it does...my thighs aren't bad...but the tummy, breasts and arms will definitely get worked.  Well overall it's been a great ride with only a few speed bumps in the road...I'm looking forward to seeing where the rest of the journey takes me.
 

This is probably the hardest thing I've ever had to put in writing....my mother passed away this past Sunday, Aug. 2....it was all very sudden and unexpected...she was 54 years old...she was my biggest supporter, my mother, my hero, the strongest person i knew and my best friend...she stood behind me always ready to catch me anytime i'd fall...if i felt weak or like i couldn't do it, she was my cheering section....a lot of people feel, that's what mother's are for...but this was different...she was more than just my mother........she'd had a tough life but always, always lived life looking forward and never back at the what ifs...so many people saw how much she relied on me...but they didn't see how very much i relied on her as well....we talked every single day...literally 10-15 times a day....she has left behind a huge hole that will never quite heal....she always told me that when she was gone she wanted her life to be celebrated not mourned...so we're doing just that...even through the tears and pain....we are celebrating...i loved this woman more than could ever be expressed....we had our rough times...but it never lasted long and when they were over we just grew closer...even when it didn't seem possible that could happen....life will never be the same....but i know she would want me to pick up the pieces and live by the example she set for me....the journey we know as life isn't always easy, painless and smooth...but in the end, it's all so very worth it....i miss you and love you mom!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I got the ok from the Psychologist today.  He sent a letter to the surgeon's office giving me his approval...so now the surgeon's office is getting the stuff to the insurance company....so we're onto the last step....let's hope it goes smoothly and doesn't take the insurance company forever to get me approved....crossing fingers and praying...

Having a really hard time with waiting...So the surgeon's office called and told me they have everything now except the psych eval...so now we're just waiting on that...I paid out of pocket for the eval...now i'm just wondering how long before he gets around to looking it over and writing the letter...the sooner he gets it to the surgeon the sooner i can start waiting to hear from the insurance company...hurry up and wait...whoopee!!!!

Well I'm one step closer....I finished my last visit of the 6 month diet today and my last dietician visit as well.  They are both sending their letters on to the surgeon tomorrow.  I also went and paid out of pocket for the psych eval today...he said he will get a letter written up and on it's way this week.

So as soon as the surgeon gets those last 3 letters, everything is ready to send on to insurance for approval.  I haven't been all that nervous until now...and I am now only because insurance has decided to be a PITA the last month.  Prior to that, they've been great and paid for everything....so who knows...keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer for me that it all goes smoothly and quickly.

So I had my consult appt. with the surgeon on the 25th of June...it went great.  She told me I was a candidate for either the RNY or DS.  After much research I've decided to go forward with the DS for several reasons.  One being the need for NSAIDs due to arthritis and fribromyalgia.  The surgeon's office told me that as soon as they received all my paperwork after my last appt. with my PCP on 7/20 and my psych eval, then they will send off to the insurance.  I had my psych eval done on the 8th of June...but he hasn't sent the letter yet because he was waiting for insurance to pay.

So then on Wed. July 1st I get a letter from the insurance company that the psych eval payment was denied because I didn't complete a specific weight loss program, which I wasn't even doing.  Instead my PCP is following me, which is an approved option.  So then the insurance tries to tell me that they don't have anything from my PCP that says I've been doing a weight loss program...PCP has faxed it repeatedly...even met with the referral committee....then I get told that they are waiting for my mental health records...WTF...and the woman says but you probably don't want them to get a hold of your mental health records...I said um why...she says because it could have an affect on your future insurance benefits...I said WHAT...lady there is nothing in there that is bad!!!!!!!!!!  Pissed me off!!!!

Then they proceed to tell me that I have to go through a month of psych visits...a minimum of 3 and that there is no testing that needs done...uh that isn't what the criteria that was sent to the psychiatrist or the surgeon said...and my dr's office told me they are full of it...that they are trying to get me to give up.

So I called today again and I get told by the insurance that I can't get approved for the psych eval and testing(which wasn't necessary the last time i talked to them) unless I'm approved for surgery...but can't get approved for surgery unless I get the psych eval....so now it looks like I'm going to have to pay $800 for my dang psych eval out of pocket...

My doctor's office said they are talking circles and not making any sense...well yeah...so now what...I'm getting a bit freaked out that they are going to be a PITA when it comes to approving the surgery...and I feel like beating my head into the wall...

I figured I'd have to wait a little longer for my consultation appointment to be scheduled but, I got a call today and my appt. is June 25th.  So I called my PCP today and they are getting my referral, medical records, test records, a letter from my dr. etc. sent over to the surgeon's office.  I was told to prepare a letter for the insurance company and bring it with me.  And I just went through the online program the surgeon's office sent me and got together a list of questions for the surgeon.  I think I'm ready.  Then again, I'll probably come up with 50 more things I need to ask or do before then.  LOL

Well I got through the Psych Eval...now I just wait to hear whether I'm loony tunes or not...lol...and will hopefully hear from the surgeons office pretty soon.

The psych eval seemed a bit over the top...I was actually wondering if all those tests were standard or if he was just giving me every possible test he could think of, which of course I'll probably have to pay for myself.  He said Tallgrass required it all, but almost 5 hours in his office seemed too much.  I definitely wasn't prepared for all that.  Wish I'd had some warning before the appt. this morning.  Oh well, it's over.  Now I just have to wait some more.