Gator Pam

Surgical team just came in to do an assessment. All is looking good, and I should be able to start clear fluids this morning. If that goes well, I'll be helped in to a chair, with the plan of eating food for dinner tonight. Another night stay in ICU, and then hopefully moved to a normal room tomorrow, to begin moving around and true recovery.

Thank you, all! Today's surgery day. Please keep me in your thoughts. See ya on the flip side!

For those following my cancer recuperation journey... After a long day (8:30 to 3:30) at the University of Washington Medical Center, my presurgical consultations and CAT scans are completed, and I am good to go for my DIEP FLAP reconstructive surgery on Monday. Plan, as of now, is to report at 5:30 am on Monday, and to expect to be on the table from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm. A couple of days stay in ICU, to be sure my flaps don't develop necrosis, followed by a couple of days stay in a standard hospital room. Expected recuperation at home is then four to six weeks. A long haul, but it will be nice to have a superior body than the one I started with before the bilateral mastectomy in June. Prayers and good thoughts for the surgeon's task, as well as my own healing, will be appreciated.

Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit Happy New Year!

And the bonus video from Six13. This is my favorite out of all of them. Six13 out did themselves this year.

Since each group currently has nine Hanukkah videos, here's a bonus video from The Maccabeats for the last day. A few years ago, The Maccabeats put out a video of the Passover classic, Dayenu, which used different music styles to sing the song. It was very well received. This year they followed the same concept with I Have a Little Dreidel.

Whereas, last year Six13 threw it back to the Boy Band era.

For the eighth night, last year The Maccabeats parodied Ed Sheeran for their 10th anniversary.

Again, 2016 was the year of Hamilton parodies. Here's Six13's tribute for the seventh night.

2016 was the year of Hamilton parodies. Here's The Maccabeats tribute, for the seventh night.

While Six13 parody Silento for the sixth night.

For the sixth night of Hanukkah, The Maccabeats parody Walk the Moon.

So, I'll post updates regarding my cancer recovery journey here, rather than in the off-topic forum, unless I'm told otherwise. Yesterday was my follow up presurgical consultation with my reconstructive surgeon. She wouldn't put me on the operating table unless I weighed less than 200 lbs. I decided to go for 190 before going back, so I would be certain to be somewhere in the 190s when I went clothed in to her office. I'm glad I did, as my appointment wasn't until 4:00, and I wasn't going to fast until that late in the day. On the scale at UW reconstructive surgery, I weighed 192. When my doctor walked in, she looked at me with a big grin, and the first thing she said to me was, "Give the girl a goal, and have her blow it out of the water!" She was of the mindset that I lost 40 lbs since she saw me in June, and I didn't remind her that 11 of those pounds were dropped overnight after the bilateral masectomy (bye-bye boobies). I felt just fine basking in her effusive praise. But, I'm still going to keto on. I have a lot of weight yet to lose. For now, it looks like surgery will be scheduled for March. But, there is a chance another patient may cancel next month around my birthday. Not the happiest of birthdays with the plan of spending four days in ICU. But, if it is offered, I'll jump at the chance anyway.

While for the fifth night, Six13 satires Taylor Swift.

For the fifth night, the Maccabeats satire some Meghan Trainor.

I'm glad you're enjoying! I'm saving my absolute favorite video for a bonus track on the eighth night (since both groups now have nine Hanukkah videos, each).

Six13's entry for the 4th night.

The Maccabeats entry for the 4th night.

Thank you!

Jewish a capella groups are becoming all the rage. Two of my favorites are The Maccabeats and Six13. I'll post a video from each group for each of the eight nights. Since I missed the first two nights, I'll post three nights worth at once. 1st night: Candlelight - The Maccabeats Hanukkah Rights! - Six13 2nd night: Miracle -The Maccabeats Haneirot Halalu - Six13 3rd night: Shine -The Maccabeats The Thanksgivukkah Anthem - Six13 (2013) I'm working my way up from earliest to most recent, as Six13's video for this year blew me away. But, if anyone has any other groups Hanukkah videos to share, feel free to post.

I'm seriously thinking of giving this a try for a low carb option. https://www.wholesomeyum.com/recipes/pecan-roasted-better-than-sweet-potato-casserole-low-carb-paleo/

I like the idea of La Vigilia di Natali, the Feast of Seven Fishes, on Chr-stmas Eve. But, since it is an adopted tradition, I make my own by going Jewish appetizing, i.e., lox, sable, smoked whitefish, various picked herrings, and bagels and cream cheese for those who can eat carbs. As a first year keto-er, I'll have to pass on the bagels, but I may make some keto ones with everything but the bagel seasoning on them. Chr-stmas Day usually is the same standing rib roast meal described above, only with garlic mashed potatoes instead of baked potatoes. But, I need to rethink the Yorkshire pudding and potatoes this year. I choose to cheat a little with mashed potatoes Thanksgiving and as we finished the planned overs through the weekend. I'm only now getting back to the weight I was prior to the holiday, even though all the rest, including our stuffing and green bean casserole, was keto-field.

RABBIT RABBIT RABBIT

I'm in! My GottaDeal bags get used constantly; it'll be nice to have a different style to go along with them. Is there anyway to get the "I got your door buster" phrase on the bags? I find that is a great conversation starter whenever I wear my shirts.

We're doing our meal tonight, so I'm on the forum in the calm before the storm...