1st weigh in post surgery : -10lbs

Tonight I attended my 1st TOPS meeting since surgery 5 days ago. I lost 10lbs since last Tuesday! Of course every week won't be this big of a loss considering I will soon (not soon enough!) be eating more than clear liquids cuz darn it I'm getting cranky :)

For those of you who don't know what tops is, it is a non-profit weight loss support group. I have been in it so many years that I should weight 5 pounds by now! But oh well, had I not been going this long I probably would have weight twice what I did before I decided on surgery. You can visit the site at http://www.tops.org/.

Anyway, we meet every Tuesday night. So the plan is to at least do a posting at least once a week after I weigh in at tops. Plus I will update my subtitle each week to show how much I have lost all together. Which of course right now is the 10lbs I lost this week (even though I am officially down almost 20 since I started getting close to surgery).

Plus I came home today. My parent's are back from downstate so Sharon was relieved of her "babysitting" duties. It was nice to have someone to talk to at night and watch movies with. Not that I will have much free time now, it's amazing how much there is to do here. My Lightning Bug was so happy to me. My dad called me before he picked me up today to tell me he made sure the dog was outside before I got home. He said she looked all happy and excited when he said to her "momma's coming home today". I'm sure she was, but I think more so she is happy that she can sleep in my bed again. Although she does not leave my side when I have been home today.

I think I have rambled on enough so I will close for now. However, I do want to say "Thank you" again for all the support and encouragement I have received!! Thank you! :)

Friends

Today I got to spend part of the day with friends. I say part of the day cuz I haven't been awake for the whole thing. Besides that, Sharon is stuck with me all day. I got to go on my 1st real outing since surgery. We went to Walmart. I love walmart. I could also go broke spending too much time in that store.

I was still treated like a princess. Not that I would have it any other way, but it's hard to explain to kids when they need to be careful and not take away Princess Jenn's pillow. But all is well anyway. Today I had jello, broth, italian ice, juice brought down to me and told I must eat it. I was a good girl, I did as I was told. Not that, that happens very often. And later while everyone else got to have Shepard's pie and cornbread, I ate my jello like a good girl. Not that I even close to eating like that, it did smell good.

But anyway, the main reason for this additional blog for tonight is to that you again. All of you, for being so great through all this.

<---- Ben and Amanda, My Lightning bug thanks you too ~

(Also, I'm my parents thank you for helping out. thanks a bunch!)

Recovery

It is now 3 days after surgery & here I am at my very good friend Sharon's recovering. I am doing pretty good as far as pain. I think the biggest problem I am having is I am surprised how much pain I am actually in. I have turned into a big sissy! I have already been given the "don't over do it" lecture too many times to keep track of. Ok, maybe not that many times but when your talking to a girl (me) who is taking liquid vicodin not a whole sinks in. :)

There's Sharon ------> I've been here 2 days and she's still smiling, sorta. lol

I have been trying to take it easy and not do too much like I did on Friday. They sprung me from the hospital on Friday and after that I had to do some grocery shopping & wanted to pick up my pictures I ordered ( to have ready for our upcoming scrap booking weekend.) Well I felt good until I got home, Boy was I tired! But I took a much needed nap. Now I am not allowed to over do anything. Sharon and Joe have both been great!! Sharon has been really extremely nice. They got all the good stuff for me, ok, well the stuff I can have. Popsicles, jello (she even made it!), broth and juice. It's been a long time since anyone has done that for me. Besides Sharon helping me by making sure I am eating & giving up her bed, Joe brought the bar stool from their kitchen down to the basement so I could use my computer at the bar/counter down here with Sharon. I tell ya, either my parent's better get home soon or I better be 100% or I'm moving in. lol.

<------ There's Joe, hiding from the camera. I used to be a lot sneakier with getting pics but he is a little fast for me right now. Thanks Joe!

Besides the visitors in the hospital, My parents, Sharon, Jane from work, Jim ( I am such a princess the PA that I work with came to see me in the hospital) and my Aunt Marilyn came too. She even brought me flowers. They are so pretty, & they are still alive. I am so proud of myself for that one. Oh got off a tangent. I have had a dozen voicemail's & text messages too! Of course the 1 important thing I forgot was my cell charger. But that's ok since I haven't been awake enough to answer it and talk coherently.

On that note if I forgot something, or am making no sense, I am blaming it on the pain meds. Also I am ready for a nap. No, I haven't been sleeping the whole time. Close to it though, but it's hard trying to find out how I am comfortable. It's a little weird knowing that there is a foreign object in your body and of course it's on the side I normally sleep on. Just my luck.

Anyway, until next time. Happy sleeping.

Surgery Day is here

I really should have been in bed a few hours ago. I am scheduled for my lap band surgery tomorrow morning at 7:15AM. But I have to be there at 5AM. I haven't slept much in the last couple days and I don't plan on that actually happening much until tom night. Of course it is going to be weird being a pt in the hospital I have worked for 6 years. I have worked as an Nursing Assistant many times on the nursing unit I will be on, mind you it has been a few years but still. I hope I don't see too many ppl that I have worked with and know while I am on the other side of the Nurses desk for a change.
It seems so far away still maybe that's why I can't talk myself into getting my butt into bed yet. I Have done the whole "clear liquid" diet today and have been none to happy to hear a certain friend keep reminding of all the foods I can't have, even though I have been starving all day. You know who you are! Just kidding. It really hasn't been that bad. If nothing else, I got lots of encouragement and hugs. A princess has to at least do her best to make sure those around her know she ain't going away quietly. Ok, ok, ok, so I don't do quiet very well. But hey, that's me and why ppl love me. lol
I have to say I am not as bummed about not being able to eat as I am the no driving, no swimming and 25lb weight restriction. That is gonna be awful. I get antsy very quickly with no wheels. Plus my poor dog is gonna be so hurt when I won't let her sleep on me. She has become accustomed to me being her pillow and blanket warmer.
For now, I must close. I have to do all my double checks. Make sure I have all my stuff packed, my ipod ( a must!), my comfy cloths, my teddy bear since I can't take my big ole doggie j/k.

My 1st Blog!

After some prodding from a few friends I am starting this blog to document this new time in my life.
So here I am. After many, many years of being unhappy in my own skin because of my weight, I made a decision. I decided to have the Gastric Banding surgery. I didn't so much just decided on it, as I prayed about it. It was after another scrapbooking weekend of seeing too many pictures of the "fat girl" I had become, in all my photos holding my niece & nephews. Besides the fact, I am the fun Aunt & I want to be around long enough to not only be an aunt but a mom someday. I will be adding pics soon, but for now I must say goodnight.