Hello!

Sorry for the lack of posts. We've had internet issues this past week. It went out 3 times in less than a week! They finally sent a tech out to fix it today and I'm back up and running. Apparently our dog (that we found a new home for about a month ago), who was a lab I loving called Marley but his name was Parker, chewed out phone lines. And when a big storm came through last week that was the end of our connection. Oh well, fixed now!

I'm doing well, healing well. Had my post op appointment yesterday. I still have some pain when I lift and when I get tired, but mostly I'm good. I've lost a few more pounds, which my doctor was glad to see. He said that he doesn't expect us to lose anything the first six weeks as we heal, so I'm doing fantastic. He checked my incisions, which was ok until he went to poking on my port. OUCH! He mashed and moved it around a bit, making sure it was still in position. It was, so all is good. I go for my first fill in four weeks.

I did have an issue with my sinus drainage this morning. I had just eaten breakfast, and my throat felt thick with drainage mucus. Next thing I knew I gagged and up came the mucus. Not the breakfast, just the mucus. I thought it was odd. I'm glad the food stayed though! Hope that didn't scare any of you not yet banded people!

Hello Fellow Bloggers!

So sorry for the length of time between posts. This week has been a very lazy week. I've been so tired. I'm still sore from the surgery. I didn't think I would still be sore, but it's still there. I've had to pick Hannah up a few times and it's been very obvious I'm still healing (ouchy!). I have to call tomorrow to set up my post-op appointment. I'm ready for that. I'm very ready for the pain to be gone so I can start an exercise routine. I walk now, but I get so tired. Worse than normally. Walking wasn't an issue before, but now I'm just worn out.

Among the good news: I've lost another pound! Yay, me! I have had days when I really wonder if this is all worth it. When I see a lower number on the scale, it reminds me that this surgery is absolutely worth it!
I'm also getting a new pool liner soon. The pool man will be coming next week to measure and get my selection of liners so he can order it. This is the first year we haven't used the pool since we moved into our house and I have dearly missed it. We didn't see the point in opening it, just to drain it out, have the liner replaced, and then refill and open it. We still have a few good months of hot, swimming weather, and I'm very excited. Hopefully I can add swimming laps to my exercise list.

And among the bad news. We found out a few days ago that my mother in law has liver cancer. She says they caught it early and has a good prognosis. But I know liver cancer is very, very serious. My step dad just passed away last month from throat cancer, so this is hard to take. My mother in law and I aren't as close as we used to be, but she's still Joe's mother. She's already done a round of chemo and hopefully she can go into remission.

Less pain, more tiredness.

Today was a pretty good day. My mom came over first thing this morning and cleaned my kitchen. Who could ask for anything else?! Then my grandparents came in with Josh. I was happy to see him, but not as happy as Hannah was! She just squealed and started yelling "Osh!" Her whole little face lights up when he's around. It's one of the sweetest things I've ever seen.

My grandparents stayed for lunch. Then my mom went grocery shopping for me. A nice relaxing day. But I'm so tired. To make it all the better Aunt Flow arrived today. Yay. That could be why I feel so much more tired that I have been. Ah well, at least I can get it all out of the way at the same time!

Joe's making poppy seed chicken for dinner. I'm about 99% sure I'm not supposed to eat it, but I'm betting I can eat the filling, just not the chicken. No meat until week three. I do need protein though. Which I get from shakes and drinks. I do need new shake ideas that use unflavored mix. My mom bought me a huge bottle of the unflavored mix, but I don't have any recipes for it. So any idea would be greatly appreciated!

Ugh.

Today was a rough day. Joe went to a biker function with a friend of ours, and a friend came to sit with me and Hannah while they were gone. I ended up being up way too long. We all walked outside for a bit, letting the baby play. Which was fine. Except there wasn't anywhere for me to sit. I got too hot, and then felt a little dizzy. I ended up having to come and lay down. I figured at this point I was just about good to go. Apparently not.

One of my incisions is hurting today, too. Not too badly, but enough to be an annoyance. I'll be glad when they're all fully healed and this is over! I'm especially ready to go swimming! I'm getting a new liner in my pool in a few weeks and I'm so excited to be able to open my pool, even if it's only for a handful of weeks before summer ends.

1lb down!

This morning I woke up and weighed, hoping to see the last of the IV/gas weight gone. I was surprised to see an extra pound gone! I'm officially one pound lighter than when I had the surgery. Woohoo! Very exciting.

I'm also feeling slightly better. Walking seems easier and I slept better last night (on my side). I'm a little tired now,  but I think it's because I over did it a little when I woke up. Nothing a little nap won't fix. Hopefully.

My daughter is home today. My mom has had her since the night before surgery. She's brought her home to see me, but kept her at her house at night. She's home now and running us wild. Joe finally has her chilled out on the couch with him watching Monsters, Inc. I'm thinking of a snack and possibly a nap. Tonight should be interesting while we try to get her to bed, since she's used to me putting her down. Hubby has his hands full, that's for sure!

I'm so spoiled.

I was texting a friend of mine this evening, bugging him really. I was pestering him to bring me a few things, just joking with him really. An hour or so later there's a tap at our door. Here he is with a Wal-Mart sack full of goodies, including a Juff Dunham video and the new Alice in Wonderland. :D 

He had a question or two, like was I hungry at all now. Then he started cracking jokes and I told him he wasn't allowed over if he made me laugh! Laughing still hurts quite a bit. 

I have to admit that I have a really great group of friends. They've all been supportive. I've only had a few say I didn't need the Lapband, but supported me no matter what. I've had several phone calls, a few visitors, and I couldn't ask for a better bunch of people in my life. <3

Dinner menu!

I awoke from a late afternoon nap to the smell of food. Honest to God real food! I rolled myself out of bed, slipped on my yoga pants, and waddled into the living room. It smelled so good! Hubby made himself baked chicken, dressing, and greens. Yum!

The dressing was super moist. I poked at it for a second and asked Joe if he thought I could eat some of it. He said I probably could if I chewed well and took tiny bites. I was so excited! He fixed me a small portion and brought it to me. It was soooo good. Real food. Not watery jello, or soup broth, or a popsicle, but real food. Ahh. It went down well, with tiny, tiny bites. And it's sitting well on my stomach. 

Tonight, life is good.

Better Rest.

I was able to sleep on my side this morning! Yay!

I'm a belly sleeper by nature. So this whole sleeping on my back thing has been killer. I woke up around 8 this morning. My hubby was sound asleep with his back to me. Oh! I wonder if I can roll over? It takes me about 15 minutes, but I make it on my side. Ahhhh! That feels so good.  I had to prop myself up against Joe, but he didn't seem to mind. I got another 4 hours of good sleep, which was heavenly since I was still awake around 3am trying to get comfortable. 

I wonder how many more days of this I have left. It's been just over 48 hours since I was banded. I hope the healing is over soon. At least the "omg that hurts so bad!" part of it.  

Hello Followers!

Hi there! I'm so happy to see I already have a few followers. Welcome!

I wanted to cheat on my post op diet tonight. I wanted nothing more than graham crackers in a bowl of milk. I'm still on a liquid diet.  (Thanks, honey, for not letting me have them!)

I did, however, have a cup of low fat yogurt. I'm not supposed to have it until after the 48 hour mark, but I figured a few hours wouldn't kill me. And I tolerated it very well.

I can finally sit up straight without being in pain from the gas. I'm not sure how long that will last, but I'm taking full advantage of it right now. I'm sitting up in bed, watching Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader and blogging. The pain has chilled out and I'm actually enjoying myself right now.

Appreciation.

My husband and  I have been married for almost 7 years, together for almost 12. We've been through hard times and lots of good ones. His support in my weight loss surgery decision and during this post op time has been amazing. I'm so grateful for him and all he is doing for me. <3

24 Hours Post-Op

Just over 24 hour post op. Surgery went well, no complications at all. I had to stay longer than I was expecting, just because the nurses decided I was staying. I finally had to have my nurse call my doctor and was released around 7:30pm. The ride home seemed to take forever. Every little bump felt like an earthquake rattling every inch of me. But I made it.

I'm on a clear liquid diet for the next few days. It hasn't been so bad. Lots of vitamin water, soup broth, ext. I'm not very hungry, and it takes me a little bit to realize I'm hungry. Between the pain and the gas, the hunger is hard to feel. The gas is pretty bad, but the Gas-X does help. The didn't give a lot of pain medication in my prescription, so I've been taking half doses to try to make it last a little longer. Hopefully I won't need it much longer. 

I did gain 4 lbs during the surgery. I'm sure from all the fluid and gas/bloating. But it was sure discouraging to get on the scales and see a gain!

I know this will be worth it.

And the journey begins...

Tomorrow, July 13th, 2010, I will be having the Lapband procedure. I'm nervous and elated all at once. I've struggled for years with my weight. I've tried diet after diet and always fail. The weight always comes back. My parents both had the gastric bypass with complications. That surgery scared me. So when it came time to consider weight loss surgery, I did my research and decided on the Lapband. I started a pre-op diet and have lost only 8lbs. But it's a start and it has me motivated.

This is going to be hard work. But I know I can do it.