Thank you all for your words of encouragement.

Firstly we have another Question:

Q:   Is your husband in the military?

A:  Nope,  my hubby is a Security Engineer for the Federal State Department and we are in the Foreign Service (serving at US Embassies around the world).  We were posted in Sofia Bulgaria when my husband decided to volunteer for Iraq. 

Iraq will be a approximately a one year tour with two, two week trips home to see me.  If things had gone as scheduled I would have stayed in Bulgaria with him until January 15^th but the death of my mother brought me home on January 4^th instead. 

Poke (my husband) is actually still IN Bulgaria, he will fly out of there on Thursday for Iraq.   Unfortunately he will be arriving just in time for the elections. Although I have worked at the embassies so far as a dependent, I am not allowed to go with him to Iraq, it is an unaccompanied post.

Iraq was a hard decision for us, we are very patriotic people (more so since we have lived in other countries and realize just what we have in the US). Poke felt he was needed in Iraq (he is v v good at what he does) and thought that it would be easier for him to go now than after we have children.  Iraq will also ensure him a promotion and most likely our pick of post for 2006-2009/10. (We want Bangkok).

Secondly there has been a bit of concern about me deciding to have gastric bypass while I am in a fragile state of mind, but in fact the decision was made several months ago.  I have been researching the surgery for months now and had decided that if I was not pregnant before I came home for this year in the states that I would have the surgery done, if I was pregnant then of course I would not.  Well, as I am not pregnant anymore I can move on with my other plans.

It is not likely for us to be posted in the US for at least 5 more years and then it would be in DC.  I don’t have any family in DC, nor any good friends so if I had surgery while there I would be on my own while Poke worked.

If I can have the surgery done while I am home now, I will have my dad and sister to help me out if I need it and I won’t have to worry about waiting to get pregnant, because I am doing that anyway.   So you see… it’s the perfect time.

I called the doctor I have chosen today and his office set me up for a consultation appointment on February 1^st.  I’m a little worried about my insurance though, I’m not sure if I will have to fight them. If I have to fight and appeal it will take much longer to make this happen.

My knee troubles and back pain aren’t well documented because mostly it’s a waste of time to go to the doctor about it, I just pop some pain pills and go about my business the best I can.  I’ve been emailing my clinic in Sofia to see if they can help me out, I’ll let you know how that goes.  If anyone has any advice on getting approved by insurance I would be more than happy to hear it!