How is everyone doing?  I have been very reticent on my posting here, I have always been around just haven't posted anything in a while.  For that I appologize to my friends.   Life has been up and down, sideways a few times, and forward.

First really big update is that as of a week ago at my Lap Band doctor's visit I have lost 112lbs, in little over a year.  WOOHOOOOO!!!  Pardon me while I do a happy dance. 

Another big event is that I am still here and still loving life.  While I may not like being an amputee I have accepted it and gotten over it.  My prosthetic is now as much of my life as my good leg.  I noticed that when I had that epiphany that life got a lot easier to deal with. 

Now that there is a bit less of me to move around, I am trying to get more in shape (not that barrel was not a shape).  I want to be where I can get around a lot easier and keep up with my wife a bit more, right now she runs me into the ground.   I have noticed that women seem to have tons more energy while shopping then men ever will.  But I am striving to keep up with her as I try to enjoy being with her.  So if you are somewhere and see a very tall and large guy crawling by, it is probably me so just cheer me on and give me some water.

Well don't want to completely bore you all to tears so I will sign off for now.

Big Bear Hugs and lots of love,

James

Well on 29 July my wife and I will have a major celebration.  We will have been married for 15 wonderful years and it will be my 2 year anniversery of my amputation.   Haven't decided yet how we are going to celebrate but we are going to. 

I am particularily a blessed person that I have such a wonderful woman that not only stands behind me to help hold me up at times but stands beside me as an equal (did I say that right love?)  No matter what I have put her through she stands by me.  Knowing some of the women I dated before her, she truly stands out by no small margin.

I have also come to a sort of epiphany recently.  Most of you may just roll your eyes at me but others will just smile and say "it  is about time".  I totally feel now that I have come to complete terms with being an amputee.  Not just the fact that I have a prosthesis, but that it is part of who I am now.  I accept that now.  And if you really want the truth I am now happy with it.  Don't get me wrong I like others wish it had never happened, but oh well it did.  Life is too dang precious to get hung up on this stuff.

I am having just as much if not more fun now as I ever did before the amputation.  This experience was truly a life changer and eye opener, and I accept it and that which comes with it.

Before I get too far into speach making I also wanted to give everyone an update on my weightloss.  Since my lapband surgery in October of 2008 I have lost nearly 85 pounds.  WOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!!  Pardon me while I do the happy happy joy dance.

You are all my friends and I love each and every one of you.  Big Bear Hugs to all.