Happy Halloween

I have had a hard time getting into the spirit for Halloween this year.  Normally I love getting dressed up and handing out candy and everything.  Maybe it's because I can't eat any of the yummy treats this year.  Maybe I've officially out grown it.  I hope not.  I didn't carve a pumpkin or anything this year.  I am actually working today.  Ah, well...  I am looking forward to getting a super cute costume for next year, so maybe that will be more fun. 

I hope that you are all enjoying the day!  Eat some candy for me!  Be safe out there!

Happy Halloween!

I love Halloween!  It's not only that I love fall and all the colors.  I love the crisp air, the mums, and the cute and creative costumes!!
Nick and I are dressing in a couple costume this year... sort of.
Can you guess what I am?? 

My eye is black and I have a "P".  We are the Black Eyed Peas!  LOL!  I found this idea online and it was super easy! 
I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable weekend! 

tests and more tests...

So today was my all-day testing for pre-op clearance.  I arrived at the hospital at 7 am and my first stop was bloodwork.  They drew 9 tubes and luckily I had a great tech.  I don't even have a bruise.  Next I went to do my liver and gallbladder ultrasounds.  The gel was nice and warm, so that wasn't so bad.  Next I arrived for my upper GI.  My friend had this test done recently and told me about the test, but I don't think anything could have really prepared me.  I had to swallow crystals that filled me with air and then drink whole bottle of thick barium.  Yuck!  I wasn't sure I was going to make it though that one.  Then I had to roll around in my very flattering hospital gown and drink even more barium.  The whole thing took about 20 minutes and was definately the worst part of my day.  I moved on to a very simple EKG for the last test.
Later in the day, I met with an internal medicine doctor who gave me the all clear.  That was quite a relief!  I am glad to be done with that part!
I am still trying to wrap my head around 19 days left until surgery.  It's coming fast.  Being in the hospital for most of the day today certainly made it feel more real. 
Onto other news...  Tomorrow is the annual Matis Halloween.  It's always a great time and I am really looking forward to it.  Saturday we are going to Anderson Orchard with my Mom's family.  I am sure that will be a lot of fun!  I am working Sunday, Halloween day, to make up for missing next Thursday, so my weekend will go very fast. 
I also found out, through a series of strange events, that I am getting a WII for my 30th birthday from my wonderous hubby and my DMIL and DFIL!  I am very excited about it and I am sure my recovery will be much more fun with my new toy!!  I don't have it yet, but I was very excited to find out that I was getting it.  I've really been wanting one!  I like the games so much more that any other system out there!   YAY!!

More photos from our trip...

I couldn't add anymore photos to my last post...  Sorry about that!  Here are some more pictures from Gatlinburg...

Back home again...

We are home again.  We had a wonderful trip!  The drive was really amazing!  The trees and colors were really spectacular!  We had just thr right blend of rest and adventure.  Apparently we weren't the only ones that decided to go to Gatlinburg this weekend!  It was very crowded, but not too bad any where we went.  We had a great time with our friends and our cabin was great! 
Here is a photo of the cabin and our room:

I am pretty proud of myself!  We did have some great meals, but I made good choices and only snacked a little.  I didn't end up gaining any weight while I was gone.  I was nervous about that.  We did walk a lot one day, but we were in the car exploring most of the time.

I am three weeks out tomorrow and it's starting to feel a little more real.  I have my all day testing on Thursday with labs, an upper GI, and gallbladder ultrasound.  I have to be at the hosptial at 6:30 am!  Yuck!  I am still a ball of random emotions about everything, but I am doing a lot of research to try to prepare myself both mentally, physically and emotionally.

Fun times!

So, I may not be on for the next few days.  I will be in Gatlinburg!  With no computer!  I am so excited about it!  I hope it's all I am dreaming it will be.  We are going with some really great friends and I am sure we will have a great time together.

My Mom got her surgery date today!  She'll be having surgery on Dec 22!  She'll get out of the hospital on Christmas Eve!  So, Christmas is going to be interesting this year.

It's another beautiful day in Indy.  Enjoying the weather and hoping it's just as nice on our trip!

Tuesdays...

Have you ever thought about how random Tuesdays are?  They don't really have a "thing".  Monday is the dreaded day.  Wednesday is "hump day", a half way point.  Thursdays are a celebration for Friday.  Fridays are a day of winding down.  Tuesdays.  Nothing.  I guess it's not Monday anymore. 
Random thought for the day. 

On another note, Happy Birthday to my Daddy!

Monday, Monday...

So I missed my post for yesterday.  I had a good day.  Laundry, yuck!  But then customary dinner with my Mom's side of the family.  I love our Sunday lunches.  My mom made turkey meatloaf and it was delicious!  Legal, too! 
We were up very late last night for the Colts game, so we didn't go the gym.  I've felt off my game all day today.  It's amazing what a difference it makes to start my day with a workout and high protein breakfast!

Spectacular!

Had a great day today!  I went to a Christmas Stamp-a-Stack this morning and came a little closer to meeting my Christmas card goal.  Then my DFIL, DMIL and DH and I went to Nashville and Brown County State Park!  What a BEAUTIFUL day!  Sadly, we were NOT the only ones to have the idea to go today and it was a tad crowded!  But the colors were really worth it!  I just love fall in Indiana! 

(a bit blurry... the car was moving)

Tomorrow is my DMIL's birthday, so we took her to Logans for dinner.  Thanks, John and Kathy, for spending the day with us!  

Happy Friday!

Oh, Friday...  You are such a loyal and wonderful friend.  Burdens seem lighter, the world looks brighter and all because you're finally here!  I do love Fridays.  That seems so funny to me.  It's just a day.  It happens every 7 days, just like clock-work.  Why are they so special? 

I have 4 weeks of work after today for the rest of the YEAR!  That seems funny to say!  I haven't had that much time off work since I was 17!  I am looking forward to a bit of a vacation.  I do love my job and I adore the people I work with, but I think having some "me" time will do wonders and it sounds glorious! 

This weekend will be fun!  I have a Christmas Stamp a stack tomorrow morning and then I am going to Brown County to see the leaves tomorrow afternoon.  It's one of my very favorite things to do in the fall.  Sunday is my DMIL's birthday, so we will be celebrating tomorrow.

Next week is Gatlinburg!  We are going with some really great friends and we'll be there for 4 days.  I am really excited about our trip!  The next few weeks will be very busy and I am hoping it serves as a distraction so I don't have time to get nervous! 

Have a great day! 

Beautiful day!

I know this may sound odd, but I LOVE my drive to work.  Sincerly!  I am fortunate enough to get to take all back roads.  I drive by several fields and and this is my very favorite time of year.  The leaves are spectacular!  There are so many colors and the sky is such a beautiful backdrop!  I feel like every beautiful scene I pass is a gift just for me.  Then I get to work and I have a desks surrounded with windows, so I find myself staring at the sky more often than I will admit.  I have a cute little tree right outside my window that provides hours of entertainment.  There are always birds coming and going.  I try to take a few minutes everyday to see what's happening outside.  Just another part of slowing it all down.
Here's what I see everyday:

Things I hope for...

I was working out at the gym this morning and had some time to think...  I find that I really enjoy my morning walk and enjoy the time I have to think.  I can feel my lungs fill with air, feel my blood flow, feel the sweat beads as I push a bit harder.  I embrace the time I can spend alone with my thoughts.
This morning my thoughts were filled with some of my goals and things I "hope" for.  I say hope because these are goals I am setting, but we can fail at goals.  If I hope for these things, I won't ever "fail" them.

Just a few of the things I "hope" for:
1 - I want to be able to run.  Really run.  For a long time.
2 - I want to be able to go to a clothing store and buy single digit sized clothing.
3 - I want to be able to climb the stairs in St Louis (by the Arch) without getting winded
4 - I want to fly on an airplane without spilling over my seat.
5 - I want to be able to see my toes when I look straight down.
6 - I want people who haven't seen me for a while to not recognize me.
7 - I want to avoid EVER being on insulin.
8 - I want my queen sized bed to feel like a king.
9 - I don't want to use the handicapped stall in a restroom because I don't fit in a standard stall very well.
10 - I want to be able to sit in any chair out there without pausing to ask myself if it's sturdy enough.

Now, these are not even a fraction of all the things I hope, but it's a start.  Somethings are more personal, but almost all have to do with transforming myself into a more happy, healthy and complete me.  Not all of this journey has to do with weight loss.  I strive to be like Nick.  Really.  He is an amazing human being, good and wonderful to the core.  I hope to be more like him.  He will tell you that he's not perfect, but in my eyes, he's as close as I could hope to be.

While I am "hoping" for things, I am also embracing the place I am in now.  I've lost 18 pounds in 3 months.  On my own.  With old fashioned diet and excersise.  I've worked hard.  I've researched and changed my habits.  My brother stayed with us the other night and told me in a frusterated voice that we didn't have any snacks.  He said that all we have is health food.  I smiled because he's right.  We have removed everything "illegal" from our house.  I get up at 5 am to be at the gym by 6 am at least 3-4 days a week.  Me!  The perpetual night owl!  I have made choices to be the best me I can be.  And I can say that I am proud of myself.  Even when I stumble, I am getting right back in there.  It feels glorious!

Trying something new

I have been wanting to try this for a long time!  What a fun way to share your journey with friends and family.  I am an avid blog-stalker, so I thought it was time to try my hand at this.

I am preparing to have bariatric surgery and I have 5 weeks left.  I am a bundle of emotions already and I understand it only gets worse!  I have met some really great people on this journey and I consider myself very lucky to have an amazing group of friends and family supporting me on my way.  My surgery date is set for November 17, 2010.  My wonderful, amazing and inspirational husband is doing this with me.  He will be having surgery exactly 2 weeks after me and I couldn't feel more blessed than to be doing this with him.

All of my posts won't be about my WLS (weight loss surgery).  I am also a rubber stamper, amongst other things.  This blog may just be as random as me.  I would like to use this space as a sort of journal, so please feel free to cheer me on if you'd like.