Reflections...

2010...  I can't beleive it's wrapping up.  This year has been full of some great moments!  The first big thing that happened in '10 was a new and exciting job opportunity!  I was able to start in a new position at work and I have really enjoyed it!  This year has been a year of "getting myself together".  I took control of my spiraling weight issue and decided to have WLS to help me accomplish my goals.  I am so happy that some others I care about took similar steps for themselves.  Nick and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary and it still amazes me that our love grows deeper every day.  My brother, Jacob, and his family are in the process of buying their 1st home and they hope to close in the next few weeks. My brother, Chris, took his GED in an effort to improve his life.  I couldn't be prouder of them!  I've made some great new friends this year!  We were able to have a really nice, low stress, holiday season.  I started crafting more on my own.  2010 has been really great!  I am excited to see what 2011 has in store!!

Great support group!

Last night I got to visit with lots of great friends!  I went to visit a friend that had WLS a couple of weeks after me.  It was great to see her and catch up!  She's doing an awesome job and losing like nobody's business!  We have agreed that we are going to be even more super hot very soon!  LOL!

I also got to visit with Matt and Trina.  If I haven't mentioned it before, Trina is a wonderful cook and she made dinner last night.  Delicious!  Are dinners with them are quite a bit different than they used to be, but Trina is still a wonderful cook.  I always enjoy our time with them.  Matt and Trina help Nick and I stay balanaced. 

Nick balled some cantelope the other day and I enjoyed a bowl for breakfast this morning. Mmmmm!  I am going to lunch with a friend from work and I am going to try some potato and cheese soup from O'Charlies.  It was one of my faves pre surgery, so I'm hoping it goes ok.  

We are going to see Wicked tonight and I am so excited!!  I am really looking forward to the show.  I've heard awesome things about it!  My aunt bought me the tickets for my birthday!  YAY! 

Other than that, I am just blown away by the fact that tomorrow is that last day of the year.  I'll do a year end wrap up post in the next couple of days, but suffice it to say that this year has been wonderful!  Now I'm just looking forward to what 2011 holds!

Back to "normal"

So today is my first day back at work.  I was a little nervous about how today would go.  I was afraid that I would be overwhelmed with people wanting to "catch up" and that I would not be gracious.  Then I was afraid no one would notice and I would be disappointed.  Really??  I am not sure why I waste so much precious brain energy worrying about things that DON'T MATTER!  LOL!  It was fine!  It's been a very nice blend.  I have gotten some really nice compliments and everyone has told me they can tell.  It's been nice to catch up with everyone.  I really don't feel like I've missed a beat. 

I am down 38 lbs since surgery and 68 total, so I am very happy!  My clothes feel good, my legs feel great!  I went shopping and was able to wear a 24 pant!  It's been a LONG time since I was in a 24!  Food is still interesting...  I am still stuggling a bit, but I am doing ok.  I am trying to get in all the protein I can, but I have been throwing up a lot more lately.  I am just trying to chew, chew, chew! 

I do feel pretty good.  It's been a lot of fun to see poeple's reactions to me.  I think they are suprised that I am still "Me".  I don't know what they were expecting...  LOL! 

Here's a picture of me at work today...

I am very confident that I will be able to keep up with this better now that I am back at work and I can't avoid the internet anymore.  :-)  So...  talk to you later!

Catching up...

Ok, so I am officially disappointed in myself for not keeping up with this better!  I know I will do better when I am back at work and I am on the computer more regularly.  It sometimes pains me to get on the computer when I don't have to...

Anywho...  Let me see...  Where to start.  It's almost CHRISTMAS!!  How exciting.  It's so different how Christmas as an adult is SO different than Christmas as a kid.  It loses part of the magic somehow and it seems you have to fight a lot harder to keep the spirit alive.  I love this time of year, though.  People seem to be more open to expressing their love for those important to them.  There is a fun current that seems to run through the air.  This is a great time to reflect on the blessings you've received in the last year and it's a time to be close to family and loved ones.

Things are going well for Nick and I.  I am at a point where the day to day routines of life after surgery are getting easier and easier.  I am doing much better with my food, protein, water and supplements.  I am feeling stronger and much more normal.  I am noticing small changes in my body.  My legs are looking great!  LOL!  And my chest and face are changing.  My old clothes are very baggy.  I get on the scale and always expect to see a weight close to what it used to be and it's not!  It's lower every time I step on the scale.  I am down a total of 60 pounds and it really does feel different.  I am 29 days out of surgery today and I've lost 29 lbs since the day of surgery!  LOL!  Literally a pound a day.  I know it will slow down, but it's pretty fun for now! 

Nick is doing well and I am so grateful that he is!  He did get a pretty severe case of gout in his foot, but he's on medication now and getting over that.  Other than that, things have gone very smoothly for him.  He's in good spirits and he's recovering well.  He is such a trooper.  I just adore him.

I also got some great news yesterday.  I got approval to be off work until Dec 29.  I was going to have to take next week off anyway because of my Mom's surgery on the 22nd, but if I didn't get approval thru short term disability, I was going to have to take the week unpaid.  Not much fun this close to Christmas.  I was so excited to hear that I'd been approved!  Now I will have a little extra money to finish up my Christmas shopping!  YAY!

I also have to mention my 2 younger brothers.  Jacob Allen is graduating with his associate degree on Saturday and Christopher Michael took his GED this week.  I am so proud of both of them!  I know this will really open up a lot of opportunities for both of them. 

I will finish today by saying that the love and support we've received over the last couple of months has been simply overwhelming and unbelievable.  We've had people from all areas of our lives reaching out with kind words, love, hugs and concern.  I can't tell you what that has done for our spirits and I know that the prayers and love have helped to make this whole process as wonderful as it's been.  I am so grateful for the amazing people in my life.  Thank you is not enough, and there are no words to express my gratitude.

Love and hugs!!

Home!!

YAY!  Nick is home and he is doing AWESOME!  He's up and about and being a real champ!  He's not having too much pain at this point and I am so GLAD! 

I am doing ok.  I am still having some severe pain in one of my incisions, but I am feeling a bit better everyday.  I am hoping that will work itself out in the next week or two.  I am down a total of 50 pounds already, and about 15 from the day of surgery.  Not too shabby!  I had my first pureed chicken today and it was wonderful!  It tasted so yummy!  My wonderful MIL and FIL got us a Magic Bullet and it is awesome!  You can just throw stuff in there and it purees the food in about a minute!  Super nice!!  My DFIL brought over another recliner chair for me to use since I haven't been able to sleep in my bed yet.  Very nice!!  I am so spoiled!! 

Things are going well so far!  Nick and I are both very optimistic about the future!  This is going to be fun!!