Month 3 post op.

Today I went for my 3 month post op check. I have been a little nervous about it because the weight just didn't seem to be coming off like it should. I know that it took me years to put on the weight and I can't expect it to come off over night, but hey, I'm impatient.
ANYWHO............... got to the doctors office, checked in, sat down to wait. Took Hailey with us today. Brought her puzzle books to keep her occupied (didn't work) while the doctor was talking. After about 5 minutes of sitting in the waiting room, the PA called my name.
The short walk through the door and to the scale seemed like an eternity. I almost think I know now what the death row inmates must feel as they make their last walk. "Dead man walking!!!" UGH.
So, I took off my shoes and stepped up onto the scale and shut my eyes. I heard Brian behind me say "Oh cool!" so I opened my eyes. Caught the numbers on the scale jumping between 199.8 and 200.0. When it stopped, it was at 199!!!! I wanted to cry! I really did, but I held my composure, unless you count the fist pump!!
I have been waiting to get below 200 for a LOOOOOOOOOONNNNNGGGG time and today it happened.
I am walking on air right now.

As you all know, Sunday was Easter. I made a big dinner and the kids came to eat, and brought "significant others/roommates" with them. It was great fun. Unfortunately, my baby girl Tonia couldn't stay since she was on call for work and ended up having a patient to take. But, I have a surprise for her!! LOL.

Saturday, Justin went to Surf City to see Lizard Lick Towing. I asked him to buy his sister a T-shirt (will not divulge my reasons for it) so he did. He bought her a pink on in Large. Well, he brought it home and I called her and asked her if she had gotten a t shirt. She had. I told her that Justin had bought her one. She appreciated it, but said she didn't really want pink. I told her that was fine, I would take it and wear it eventually. Well, I tried it on and IT FIT!!!!!!!!!!! I have gone from a 3XL shirt to a L. HOT DAMN!!!!!
Ok, enough for now.
Thanks for reading!!!

2 months post op.

Well, today is 2 months since I had the surgery that changed my life. Was it the right decision? I ask myself that on a daily basis, especially when I try something new to eat and it gets kicked back at me. (Not a good feeling). But, all in all, the answer to that question is a resounding YES!!! Any regrets? Yes, one. Not doing it sooner. But there was a reason for not doing it sooner, and even though I don't know what that reason is, there is someone who does. HE saw fit for me to wait to have it done until now.
So, this morning I took my 2 month pictures. Compared to 2 months ago, WOW!!! Even though I can see big change in the pictures, I still see a fat me. Guess the fat goggles will go away eventually. I also did a weight check........down to 207. Thats 44 pounds gone FOREVER.
I feel healthier already, not as tired and I have way more energy. I just have to get rid of the "batwings" I have developed. You know, the saggy skin around the triceps, yucky!!! But, its a small price to pay at this point.
Since I had the surgery, Brian has learned to read me when I'm eating. He says he can tell just by looking at me if the food I am eating is settling fine or if its going to cause me trouble. I guess my face is an open book. But I'm glad he can foresee the problems, so that it doesn't come as a surprise when I get kicked by whatever I ate.
Even my sweet Hailey is noticing things about me eating. She constantly tells me not to drink when I eat because I will get sick. And if I get up from the table for any reason, she asks if I'm going to "trow up". Shes such a blessing. I love my little Chunk-monk.
My kids have been such a cheering section on this journey. I don't get to see all of them every day,so when I do see them, they are AMAZED by the way I look. Stephen came over the other day and when he hugged me he said he could put his arms around me further than he has in a while! That felt good to hear that. Gosh, my babies aren't babies anymore.
There is one thing that I haven't done at work yet though. I have not even put on my turnout gear since before I had the surgery. I thought about it last night, but changed my mind. I might try it on next week sometime, just to see how it fits, or doesn't. LOL.
Anyway, this is the newest comparison picture. The first one is day of surgery, second is 1 month post op, third is today, or 2 months post op. What do you think? LOL

6 week post op follow up.

So, yesterday I went for my 6 week post op check up with the surgeon. I was a little apprehensive stepping on the scale. I mean, I have been monitoring my weight at home using the Wii Fit board, but how accurate is that, really? Well, I should not have been worried at all. I knew I was losing, just not so sure I was losing like I thought. (I still see a fat me when I look in the mirror) Well, the scales told the truth, and were right on with the Wii Fit. As of yesterday, I was down to 212. That is 39 pounds GONE since I started this journey, and 21 GONE since surgery. I was one happy lady!! The PA cleared me to eat anything with caution. Basically, what he said was to experiment and see if I tolerated it. But not to try a bunch of new things too fast. And remember the 30-30-30 rule.
WELL........I have been DYING to have lasagna. So, I made a pan last night. I put a super small serving on my plate, 4-year-old Hailey had a bigger serving. I ate 1 (ONE) tiny bite and it felt like bricks sitting in my little pouchy. Ran to the bathroom, dry heaved for a few minutes, felt better. Came back out to the dining room, sat down and pushed the plate away. My daughter and Hailey asked me if I was ok. Luckily my hubby had explained to them what was happenings so I didn't have to.  Well, since I hadn't actually vomited, the little bite was still present in my tummy. UGH!! Next thing I know, I was running back to the bathroom. This time was successful. I felt so much better.
Woke up this morning with a pissed off pouch. It is even getting grumpy with water. I'm taking it nice and slow today.
Even though I can't eat some things right now, I may be able to later in the future. I'm hoping so, As of right now, lasanga and pot roast are the only 2 things I can't tolerate.
I am eagerly awaiting the day I step on the scale and I am in "One-derland"!!! Won't be long now!!!

Vacation

This past weekend we took a "mini-vacation" to Georgia to see my cousin and her girls. Sunday was her littlest ones birthday. The child was seriously bringing in the "Lalaloopsy" stuff. I don't think I had ever heard of them until now. It was a great visit. Didn't take as long to get there as we thought it would. We left Saturday morning around 9-ish. Had to stop for gas once and food once. I'm thinking we got to her house around 3. Hung out, catching up. Sunday was the birthday party, was a good time. Too bad I couldn't eat a piece of cake, but I know I would have paid DEARLY for it if I had. So, I refrained and drank my water. After the party, we went back to their house and relaxed. Went to bed around 10 or so, had to get up early to come home.
We got up at 7 to get ready to come home. Brian wanted to come home the scenic route, via Hwy 17 instead of I-95. I figured, "Why not? I don't have to be anywhere until Tuesday". It was a really nice ride. We saw the memorial for the "Charleston 9". The 9 firefighters that were killed in the furniture superstore fire back on June 18, 2007. What a sad situation.
We had lunch at Red Lobster in Myrtle Beach. Neither of us have ever eaten there. It was good. I didn't like fish before I had this surgery, surprisingly, I can tolerate it now. I had stuffed flounder. Brian had fish and chips. He gave me a small taste of his haddock, I tasted it and busted out laughing because it truly tasted like chicken to me. He thought I was strange, oh well.
We got home around 4 or so. Approaching the house, saw a black dog out by the road. LOUIE!!! Darn dog had dug out under the gate AGAIN. OHHHH I was soo mad!!. Got him back in the fence and put a cinderblock in the hole and filled it back in. As we walked up on the porch, we could hear Fenway just inside the door. He knew we were home and was so excited.
Well, within 5 minutes of us being home, we found out what Fenway had been doing with his time while we were gone..........our bedroom was DESTROYED. All the ink pens that were on my nightstand were chewed up or on the floor, lotion was chewed, his ear medicine was chewed, my watch band was chewed until it was almost gone! OH we were not happy. But, we couldn't fuss at him because he hadn't done it where we could catch him. I just calmly picked everything up and put it away. Not so good ending to a good weekend.
Now, tomorrow I go back to the doctor for my 6 week post op check. When I got home this afternoon, after I got the mess picked up, I got on the Wii Fit to check my progress. I know its not as accurate as it would be in the mornings, but it told me I was down to 213. I'm hoping the scale at the doctors office is pretty close to that!!!!
Well, will post again later.

First day back to work.

Well, at 8am yesterday, February 1, 2012, I went back to work, full duty. It felt GREAT to be back on the truck. Surprisingly I missed it alot, and didn't even realize it. I was a little apprehensive initially, mainly because of the lifting and moving that we do, but I didn't have to worry about it, I had plenty of people there so I didn't have to lift.
But, what a way to start the first day back!!! Started the day with a "cardiac arrest" call, my Lt, and partner was the lead medic on scene, he took control of the situation and several minutes after arriving on scene, we got a pulse back on our patient and a good blood pressure. Several minutes after that, she started breathing on her own. Last check at 7 this morning, she was maintaining stable vital signs. Hopefully she walks out of the hospital.
On that call, I got my FIRST IO on a human. Only other ones I ever did was on the mannequins in class, definitely not the same!
 We had a couple other calls after that, nothing too exciting though.
I'm glad to be back to work though.
now, as far as the surgery goes, I'm just over 3 weeks out, and down a total of 29 pounds, 11 since surgery. Does it feel good? HECK YEAH!!!!
I'm ready to put on some of the clothes I have been wearing and them not want to stay up. I noticed yesterday when I was getting ready for work that I put on one of Brians XL shirts and it was a touch too big. THAT felt good. AND when I put on my belt, it went all the way to the LAST hole, instead of the first one that it was getting to a month ago. THAT is how I know that something is working.
I'm still having trouble getting in all the water that I have to get in. But its getting better. I can generally get in right at 40 ounces of water each day, so i'm just 1-3 glasses under the recommended amount. But at only 3 weeks out, what can I expect?
Walking is getting easier. I plan to walk the 3 miles that I walked the other day. Its relaxing, other than the fact that there are no sidewalks on my road and the cars think its a drag strip because its a very straight road, other than the curve at the front of the road and another about a mile down.
ANYWHO........figured i would share my first day back at work. Thanks for reading!!!

9 days past surgery

Well, its been 9 days since my life changed forever. Can't say that I'm regretting my decision, in fact, its the best decision I have made since I made the decision to quit smoking. When I made that decision, not only did I want to quit for ME, but the beautiful little girls that were a part of my life, one already here on Earth, the other on her way. It was one of the best decisions I made at that time.
Now, here I am, 4 years later, and people ask me alot if I miss smoking and ever think of going back. My reply to that is a VERY fast "HELL NO!" I have so much to live for, my kids, husband, parents, siblings, etc. BUT, the most important reasons, 5 year old Alannah and 4 year old Hailey. These girls are my shining stars. I love them so much and want to be around for a LOOOONG time. Which is part of the reason I made the decision to have the gastric bypass surgery.
Being heavy, I was putting myself at risk EVERY day. It was affecting my performance at work, and jeopardizing my chances to see my girls grow up. Walking up stairs, even a very short set or 4-5 would leave me winded and my heart racing, not a good feeling. I couldn't get outside and play with the girls like I wanted to because I was afraid I would become short of breath or would even get so tired so fast that no one could have fun.
Look at me, talking about my weight as if I have lost all the excess weight already, but I have lost 23 pounds since I began this journey back in September. Believe me, 23 pounds is alot. I can tell a HUGE difference in my energy levels even this early out. I walked up the stairs at work on Monday, one story, and did not get winded!! Which is a good thing, considering that on any given shift, we stand the chance to go out multiple times at night, which means climbing those stairs repeatedly.
I'm considering purchasing the Zumba for Wii, right now, its a little too cold to go walking outside. So, I figure that will get me moving.
ANYWAY..........enough for now. Thanks for reading!!

FREAKING OUT!!!

Ok, so now I'm freaking out a little bit. I have read on MANY MANY gastric bypass forums that after WLS you have to crush your meds before you take them. I was never told this by my doc, and when I was in the hospital, I was even given whole pills to take. If I had to crush them, wouldn't the nurse have crushed them in the hospital? It just seems strange to me that IF I'm supposed to crush them, then someone would have said something and it would be in writing on my discharge instructions/med list, or even all the stuff I was given before surgery. Maybe my surgeon doesn't require it? I'll find out on Monday when I go for my first post-op visit.