Darinda

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Well, now that I've been able to slowly add "real" food to my daily intake, I am quickly learning what I can tolerate and what I can't! I've learned that I can't let myself get hungry because it makes my stomach spasm and feel horrible. I was at the grocery store the other day and found myself feeling hungry so I grabbed a pack of Louis Kemp imitation crab meat thinking it wasn't the best choice, but it certainly wasn't the worst. I thought a couple pieces would get me through till I got home. What I found out was that I got through till I got home alright... just so I could throw it up in relative comfort and not in my car! Just a couple pieces (well chewed I might add) made my tummy cry "uncle". I've also found that I cannot tolerate silk tofu in my protein shakes. After a couple of swallows I feel just like I did with the artificial crab meat... No fun!
But I ate half a sausage/egg burrito from McDonalds this morning and my tummy said "thank you, that was wonderful"! I can't believe how much my tastes have changed too. Things that I would never have been able to walk past without eating it before surgery doesn't even faze me now. The hospital where I work was in the cafeteria a couple days ago giving away pieces of heavily frostinged cake in celebration of our merger with another hospital and I just walked by it without a thought. Before surgery I would never have been able to walk past that table without taking a piece.
I'm down a total of 43 lbs so far with about 105 to go.
This is certainly a wild ride!!! :)

Well, I did it! I had my lap DS on June 6th and went home on the 8th. I am working incredibly hard to get my protein and fluids in. I had heard that my tastes might change so I half expected that; what I didn't expect was that everything would taste so medicinal. The liquid pain meds are hideous tasting, which in turn make everything else taste that way. But, it's important so I keep plugging away.
The surgeons office called to check on me today and they were very pleased at my progress. I still have the nasty pain between my breasts when I drink something, and I have to stop a moment, let it go down, burp a teensy bit, then keep going. I don't feel hungry at all so I'm having trouble trying to distinguish when I should stop. Surgeons office recommended that I alternate the Valium with the pain meds to help relax the muscles so I can swallow with less discomfort. I am hoping to go back to work for at least a partial day on Monday so we'll see how it goes over the weekend. One week off might be pushing it, but that's what I do best :)
Thank  you God for all my many blessings!

I will be having my DS on June 6th and I am so excited to begin this new phase of my life. It seems like there is always something... I finished my MSN in December and thought I would have a ton of extra time, but I started teaching in addition to my regular full time job, so I'm as busy as ever! I love my life, but boy what I wouldn't give to be able to shop in the Misses section and wear cute clothes that are flattering. I am actually looking forward to going to the GoodWill store when I start losing weight! A friend of mine had the DS about 18 months ago and said she went there because she couldn't afford to keep up with the ever decreasing clothing sizes. What a dilemma! =)
I feel pretty good but I'm sure my arthritis will be even less of a problem with the extra weight off. Did I mention that I'm really excited? =)
Well, going out with my hubby now to celebrate our 32nd wedding anniversary. I'm not old enough to be married that long, but the marriage certificate says so, so it must be! I keep saying I'm 36 so I'm really hoping that everyone around me is poor at math. Did I mention that I'm super excited? =)

As I've been taking my vitamin D and trying to get my level up, I know that surgery is going to be relatively soon, so do I start eating healthy? Oh, heck no! I keep eating crap that I shouldn't with the thought that I won't be doing this after surgery so I'm going to get it in now. Chicken tenders and pudding for lunch, yummy, but not terribly healthy. I have to admit it to the world- I HATE VEGETABLES!!!   I don't get the people who say they love them. To me, they either have no flavor, or a weird, somewhat bitter flavor (unless it is corn). I do like a good salad, but not for my whole meal! That's what I've had to do in order to lose weight and keep it off. Yuck! For inspiration, I keep looking at all the before and after pictures. How amazing that everyone looks so healthy and happy after such drastic weight loss. That is going to be me shortly!
Well, off to bed since I have to get up at the crack of dawn to get to the Apple store for my new ipad 2. I am such a technology geek!

So, I keep taking my 10,000 IUs of Vitamin D every day hoping that my Vit. D level will be at least 25 by the first week in April so I can get my surgery scheduled. I attribute the fact that it was so low to begin with because I live in Michigan! Sunshine? What's that?
I have not made it a secret at work that I will be having surgery and my friends are all so supportive. I tend to be pretty open see this an another teaching opportunity. It is amazing how many people have sought me out to ask about it, what steps I have to go through, how I decided which surgery to have, and am I scared? NO I'm not scared! Let's do it already!
I am thinking positive and want to stay in the hospital only over night. After all, I'm a nurse and I know what I need to do to go home! I am convinced I will be coming back to work in a week too. Might need the pain meds at that point, not really sure, but I want to save my vacation time for the cruise we have scheduled for this September. Me, thinner aboard the cruise ship.... ahhhh, the vision :)
So, I have ants in my pants waiting for Dr. Kemmeter's office to say "OK, let's get you scheduled!" I find myself looking through cutesie catalogs at the pretty outfits that I would love to wear instead of the rather limited selection in the plus size catalogs. Soon? Please?