[parentto2teens]

I have been out for a couple weeks but I got a couple replies to posts I'd written.

We are still looking for a girl/girl foster adopt group but we have some things going on so we are just waiting. I am having surgery on April 3rd to cure my type 2 diabetes. YES - there REALLY IS a surgery that cures it. But, you also have to be overweight or obese (which I am now but wasn't when I got diabetes) to have the surgery. If you are diabetic and have had diabetes for several years email me and I will talk to you in private about it.

At any rate, I have been focusing on my health so the adoption has to take a backseat. My mother almost lost her legs to diabetes and she recently had a quad heart bypass -due to Syndrome X that goes along with diabetes. In our family just losing weight will not cure the diabetes because we get diabetes at a low weight and then put on weight because of the medications we take for the disease. Don't believe that all people who get diabetes get it because we are fat. Sometimes the egg comes first. If that were true why aren't all people who hare 300+ pounds diabetic??? I got diabetes at 140 lbs.

So, don't believe it if someone tells you only fat people get diabetes. I actually know several thin type 2 diabetics!!!

At any rate, health has been on my mind. Still, my husband and I are working to fix up the girls bedroom. We bought some comforters and my husband helped me paint the dresser.

Our older daughter is enjoying the break from kids. She is almost 17 and really wanted to have little siblings. The match has to be right though of it isn't worth it to us.

I know your heart is breaking Mommy to ?. I wouldn't worry about an unsubstantiated referral. We had one of those 10 years ago from another foster child (we think) that never lived in our home and was jealous of our foster daughter. It really broke my heart but it all worked out.

I know your heart is broken. One of the best ways to fill it is to taken in another potential good match. I have been doing this for 10+ years. It doesn't mean you will stop loving or forget. Another child is waiting.

Hang in there all. I am in the countdown to surgery. Very much looking forward to being back in a size 3/4 and being no longer diabetic. Wahooooo!!! I will have alot more energy to take care of myself and kids.

[Mommyto?]

Thanks for the encouragement. We are just so afraid of what another agency will say when we get to that question on the application. How would you word it "unsubstantiated"? I know there are too many to count that need loving homes and we yearn to hold a little one in our arms and love it forever. Much success on your surgery!

[Lylac]

Hi parentto2teens,
I think it's wonderful about your upcomming surgery. Gastric bypass has changed the lives of 3 of my close family members. My husband had it in November of last year. He was a diabetic,had high blood pressure, his colest was 700! , his knees hurt, no energy etc.. he's lost about 85 pnds, all of the above ailments are cured! The only medication he takes is actigal, and thats just for 6 months. He acts like a teenager again, by the way he picks at me. Surgery made him a lil cocky, but it saved his life. I can cure his cockiness though LOL.

My baby sister had it done about a year ago, she's lost 125 pnds. no problems,
My neice had it done about a year and a half ago, she thought she would never be able to have kids, guess what, she had a beautiful baby girl last Oct.
She weighed 143 when she got pregnant and 145 the day before she gave birth, the baby weighed 6pnds 7oz.

Weight loss surgery has done so much for my family!
And it will be the best thing that you can do for yourself.

All 3 of them has had no major problems, they can eat anything they want(just not as much).
The day after surgery, you'll question yourself "what have I done?"
But keep the faith and know that it WILL get better.

Good Luck to you and I wish you much sucess on your journey!

If you have any questions just ask.

[parentto2teens]

Actually I am not having a gastric bypass but an intestinal bypass. My surgery is similar to the gastric bypass but my stomach is bigger and I should be able to eat normal sized meals in a year. I am doing this surgery mostly because I am not very big. I only weigh 186 but I am short at about 5 ft 1 in. I am doing this mostly because of diabetes. You are so right - these surgeries can and do save peoples lives.

I need to lose about 70-75lbs and will probably have most of that off by the end of the summer. I checked out all the surgeries and this one has the longer term success rate for diabetes. I know what you mean about getting cocky though. I am not really cocky but am so very very excited to be thin enough again this summer to wear swimsuit. I am excited to go places without having to hide my body out of embarassment. Taking insulin and actos medications (along with other meds) contributed to weight gain. But really, there wasn't much choice.

More importantly though, I am excited that I will not have to face foot amputations, loss of eyesight, kidney disease at a young age.

[parentto2teens]

Mommy to ?
That is a tough question to answer. All I would say is be as honest as possible without saying too much. Smile, hold your head high. If you did nothing wrong, or something very minor that is easily correctable please realize that ALL parents make mistakes. Every single parent on the planet - even pscyhologists and social workers (I am a MSW too) make mistakes. As long as you are honest, tell the truth, what can people say? Seriously what do you say when you "catch" someone on something and they are honest. You just nod and acknowledge the honesty and move on.

I make mistakes all the time. I know of no perfect person. You are right, there are many children needing love. Keep going. Doesn't sound like this little race is through for you yet.

[Mommyto?]

Thanks again for the support. We KNOW we did nothing wrong and plan to go ahead with another public agency and be honest as we always have been and pray things work out.

I understand about insulin, etc. My hubby has diabetes and we both were at the eye doctor today and found out he has alot of scar tissue behind both eyes and will need surgery to reduce the chances of him going blind, all due to the diabetes. An awful disease!! Take care.