Jodie R.
Haircut happening soon!
Aug 14, 2008
Gwen (that I met here on OH) and I are going to get our hair cut on Saturday! I can't wait. I will definitely post pictures. I haven't had short hair in more than 10-15 years.. my face was much rounder and I certainly did not want to accentuate that. Now that I am getting slimmer, I think I can pull off a shorter style for sure. I want to get it cut so I stop choking on all the long hair that is falling out too. I am hoping I can get some layers or something to make it look a little fuller. I will check into whatever products they recommend to help me as well. I am excited!!
More to come after the haircut!
Hair loss is happening..
Aug 07, 2008
I am losing my hair now. It gets worse by the day. It falls out in clumps and clogs the drains. I am seriously contemplating a much shorter style so I can stop choking on all the long hair I am losing.
Getting skinny is awesome. Getting bald is not.
Update!
Jul 29, 2008
We are all moved into our new house now. There have been a few minor issues, but overall we are thrilled. Moving costs a LOT though.. we are broke.
My 3-month surgery anniversary came and went on July 23rd. As of July 14th at a visit with my PCP, I was down exactly 50 pounds from the day of surgery and 111 pounds overall from my highest weight. Not bad, not bad at all! Most of my friends and family are telling me how great I look and that I get skinnier every time they see me. Awesome! I am wearing jeans and capris regularly now. Before, I was always in knit pants and dress-type pants or khakis. Jeans are comfortable again, and I have a few pairs that I have gotten as hand-me-downs that will get me through a few more months (thanks to Gwen and Katina!).
Vitamins are no longer a problem. I can swallow a bunch of them at once and drink as much water as I need to. Before, I would DREAD swallowing even 1 pill and had to take very small sips.
My energy and activity level are great. During the move, I was right in the mix packing things, moving boxes, and cleaning. When we moved in the past, I would get tired very soon into it and not be able to do anything. It feels so great to be a part of things.. my life is definitely changing for the better.
I have also been able to sit for my niece's children.. that is something I would not have had the energy to do in the past for more than a couple hours. Now, I can keep up with them all day long. I can't wait to have my own kids. I know now that I will be the type of parent I want to be and not just a spectator.
Food has been great too. I do get full quickly, but if I remember to eat slowly and chew well, I can fit in all the protein I need without having to supplement with shakes. Lots of meat and cheese with sauces and also cottage cheese and tuna. All is well.
We are still unpacking things in the house. We not only have ourselves to take care of, but we also have John's mom and grandmother who live with us. It was like moving 2-3 households instead of just 1. Things are slowly but steadily getting unpacked and put away. The necessities were obviously first, and other things are following.
Thanks for tuning in. Haha. If you are contemplating the DS.. get it! It's the best thing to happen to me in a long, long time.
Another trip to the ER? Mhm.
Jul 12, 2008
Last week, on Monday, we went to dinner and then out to see a movie. I ate what I normally ate.. felt as great as usual.
We paid to get into the movie.. Hancock.. and I started getting what I thought was a little gas pain. I was ignoring it.. nothing new. It passes quickly normally. It started to get more and more intense.. finally, I was gripping my husband's arm, hyperventilating, sweating, and felt like I was going to pass out from the pain. We ended up leaving the movie.. bummer.. and I called the PA at Dr. Kemmeter's office. They sent me to the ER. The pain was nothing short of excruciating at this point. I was hardly able to breathe and sounded like I was giving birth. Once I got the ER, it was worse. I asked to use the restroom and did pass a significant amount of gas (TMI, I know). I felt a little better, but not much. They basically let me stew there for awhile and took a urine sample. It turned out I had a urinary tract infection and they suspected that I also passed a kidney stone. Wow. That was horrible. I hope it never happens again. They gave me some antibiotics and sent me home. End of visit. That is the most expensive urine test ever.. almost $800 for the visit total. Bleh. Thank goodness for insurance.
Otherwise, I have been doing fabulously. We plan to go see Hancock as a matinee sometime since we had to leave about 30 minutes into it.
Sorry I left you hangin, OH!
Jul 03, 2008
I have been so busy working and focused on the buying of our new house.
That's right.. after much angst and many headaches, we are finally homeowners!! Now that it is all behind us, it was worth it. If you would have asked me that in the midst of it, I would have been singing another tune though. Haha.
Things with how I feel have been good. I sometimes forget I have had surgery, actually. I am more focused on all of the things I can do now, and I am out doing them. I am so busy.. it feels great to have the energy to be so busy though!
In the next 2 weeks, we are packing and moving. I am also planning a moving sale so I can get rid of all the stuff I don't want to lug over to the new house. There are things that are still in boxes from when we moved into this house. I am going to just set those aside and open them for the sale. I promised myself I wouldn't keep anything from them unless it was highly sentimental or important. If I haven't used it in the last 3 years, do I really need it? Probably not. I am torn about selling some of my clothes. I still wear them.. but I might go through and get rid of some. I don't know how much of a market there is for larger size clothing at sales.. but it's worth a shot, right?
I am feeling great; and I have been getting all my fluids, protein, and vitamins down without a problem. So far, the DS has been pretty easy. I hope it continues to be this way!
New blog!
Jun 22, 2008
I will still be updating this blog with WLS related topics.
I have started another blog that will be for life in general. I did add all of my posts from here to that blog in the interest of being complete.
It will be geared more away from the WLS trials and tribulations and more focused on everything else! I also have it hooked up with my twitter account.. which I faithfully update at least a few times a day.. microblogging at its best.
If you're interested.. you can find me here:
http://jodiewashere.blogspot.com/
Thanks for tuning in. Haha.
When can I PARTY?
Jun 22, 2008
Just kidding.
John and I went out with some friends last night because he got out of work early.. a rarity for a Saturday night. We met up at the bar, and the place was JUMPING. It was busy already, and it was hard to get a table. We managed though.
I, of course, had to explain to people why I wasn't drinking. I was honest about it and openly said that I had had surgery. Everyone was supportive and telling me how great I looked.. nice for the ego haha.. and it was actually a really fun night.
I was the designated driver, so John had a few beers. Usually, he drives and I am the one drinking. His brother met up with us too. We stayed at the bar for awhile then headed to another place for wings at 2am.. then we headed home. Even though I wasn't drinking, I still had a great time.. I am coming out of my shell a lot. I can really honestly feel a difference in myself. It feels wonderful.
Update on the house(s).
Jun 17, 2008
So.. if you remember back (or read back).. we were supposed to close on on a house at the end of May. That didn't happen.. long story.. but it had to do with FHA and the short sale/foreclosure process.
The realtor called me on Monday.. they have lifted the ban on FHA insured loans for foreclosures.. they made the announcement on Friday, June 13th. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Had this been a month ago, we would have gotten the house we wanted. The house was not a foreclosure.. but a pre-foreclosure. We don't know if the new rules apply.. but it is being looked into. We were completely approved for that home, including the FHA inspection and all. If things are able to be done now, I don't know what we will do. We are into the process quite far with the house I posted pictures of a couple posts down.. but the original house we tried for is awesome as well.
I feel like I have multiple personalities.
On another note.. what happened to our summer? For the last 3 days, it has been like 60 degrees. I am freezing all the time. I think it's because I have less insulation (fat). Ha.
Long day of work today and until Friday.. then I have a 4-day weekend. I love those.. and I feel like I need it. I am stressed over this house thing.
I ate some steak yesterday, and it was glorious.
Time for a little more sleep before work.
Stay tuned for house updates.
More about weight loss and less about everything else?
Jun 14, 2008
So, it strikes me that I write less and less about surgery and weight loss and more about other things that are going on in my life.
Since this *IS* a site geared toward helping those with obesity, I would imagine that blogging about life in general is not as appropriate? Since surgery, I find that I have more to write about because I am DOING more. My life becomes more full by the day. I had basically become someone who left the house once a week to do errands, etc.. and spent the rest of the time at home. It helps that I actually work from home, so I would have left for that too.. if I had to. I had also gotten to the point where I rarely drove anywhere. Now, I have no problem going anywhere. If I had an appointment before, I would have to schedule it when someone could take me. Now, it's nice if my husband goes with me.. but I go on my own too. I have made new friends through this site as well.. and gone to meet them. That is not something I would have done prior to surgery. It's not like surgery is a magic spell, but it helps to know that you and your weight are finally headed in the right direction.. and you never have to look back.
Finally some good news!
Jun 12, 2008
So.. the fourth time was a charm! The offer we made yesterday was accepted. Woowoo! We are looking at closing sometime in the next couple of weeks here. Finally, finally, finally. I hope this one goes without a hitch.
Some pics:
Standing in the dining room looking toward the front door. There is original woodwork throughout and all new laminate floors in the downstairs.
Love these windows in the dining room!
Kitchen with all new counters. No dishwasher.. but we will live, right?
Big back yard.. all fenced and ready for the dogs to play in.
Upstairs bathroom, completely new.. waiting for the medicine cabinet to be hung.
Wish us more luck that the closing goes without a hitch!
About Me
Grand Rapids, MI
Location
39.0
BMI
Surgery
04/23/2008
Surgery Date
Feb 04, 2008
Member Since
