Better days are here...

I hope everyone is having a super Wednesday!

I am feeling so much better. My pulled stomach muscle is better, and I'm getting more energy day by day! I'm a little anxious about getting my first saline fill in Dallas on Sept. 15th. Never hurts to pray early right? LOL

I haven't had to go home from work or anything. Yes, I'm still pooped at the end of the day, but it's still good.

Church is tonight. Wishing I could take a power nap before, but that isn't going to happen.

This weekend our church is having a family retreat at the lake. Many will go down on Friday evening, but the big night is Saturday. The church will provide food, and then we will have a small devotion, with a little worship, then fireworks! It kind of feels different not having a Sunday service at the church, but hey praising God is great anywhere you do it!

I'll try to get some pictures to show you.

I'm at work now, so we'll chat later....

Slowly better...

Well I made it to Sunday today! And yes I feel so much better. I am trying to not overdo because I don't want to feel bad for work tomorrow. I am still sore, and still nursing the pulled muscle. But I'm sleeping so much better, so of course overall you feel better! :)

Church was awesome today! What a great service! I think I say that all the time, but it really was.

I'm doing some laundry and trying to get my son ready for school tomorrow! My daughter is in college so she does most everything on her own. Please pray for Joshua. He seems to have a little anxiety. He has over the weekend actually! But I know after the first week or two he will be fine!

This weekend is tax free weekend and NO, I did not go school shopping! Are you crazy??

Well I will check in later....

Two days later...

Well, I am fixing to go home from work for the day and of course I'm pooped! Whew...it just takes it out of me right now.

Somehow Monday night getting situated in bed, my stomach pulled to the left and pulled the muscle where my port is located! I was in so much pain. I have missed 2 days of work trying to baby this muscle! grrrrr
Honestly, you don't realize how much you use your stomach muscles. You use them to do everything! Cough, Sneeze, blow your nose, stand up...I mean everything! There was no way I was going to work and be taking my pain medicine. I was hurting so bad.

So two days later...I am back at work. Not feeling great yet, but here. I am just babying my stomach right now, and trying to let it heal. I'm eating much better now!

Keep praying that I regain my strength and stamina! I'm also trying to keep my protein level up. Ugh!

Well I hope everyone is having a super Sunday! I made it through church this morning, and I was able to do praise and worship and it was awesome! I really felt the presence of the Lord!

It was also good to get out of the house. I have been taking it easy and working from home, so haven't been outside much. I'm able to eat just about anything that I try as long as it is in moderation and I don't over eat. I'm going to go back to work tomorrow and try to make it a full day. So pray for me please. I seem to do well in the mornings, but as the day wears on...I start dragging a bit.

I haven't been able to weigh myself on a good scale, but going to try to very soon. I'm anxious to see what I've lost. I have noticed a difference. I am trying to remember that this is gradual weight loss, not an overnight process. But that's ok, I would rather have it this way. It would be awful, if I was not able to enjoy some of the foods that my heart desires. :)

Thank you for the continued prayers! I still need them so don't stop now! ;)

Getting better...

I am doing much better. I am still sore, but I'm able to tolerate more food. I know I'm not sticking to what their recommendations are, but I'm afraid if I did, I might wilt away. I am now able to keep down a little grilled cheese, and soup, and some toast and jelly. And man it tastes heavenly! :) And yes I feel full fast, but I'm hungry again in about an hour and a half to two hours.

I am trying to work a little. Half days are helping. I'm taking some work home with me, so that I can still get my hours in. I wish I had more vacation time available but thats ok...it gets me up and moving for the day.

Yesterday I caught myself drinking water in a water bottle that you have to suck out of. Well seeing as I'm not suppose to drink through a straw, this was horrible! I never realized until later in the evening when I had a horrible air pocket that just would not go away. I went to bed with it, and prayed and prayed. It was very painful, but now I'm more aware at least.

I am still running a low fever on and off, but its not high enough to call the doctor about, but I will continue to monitor.

I will update later!

It's finally done....

First off let me say that had I felt better I would have gotten on here sooner to let you know how I'm doing...

Today is Sunday and feeling a lot better. Was very sore after surgery and slept all of Thursday in the hotel room. I really wasn't much better by Friday morning and I was totally dreading the drive back to Amarillo. But with some prayer I managed.

So now I'm home, and doing better. My whole body is sore, but especially my stomach around to my back and all the way around. I am able to keep broth, ice pops, and water down. But my stomach is constantly growling. I feel like I'm not getting enough food. I really didn't expect to feel hungry, so I'm not sure what this is about, but will wait until Monday to call the Dr. I am belching a lot of air, which is expected after surgery like this. But I will take belching any day over vomiting.

I didn't go to church this morning. I know I am not walking like I should. I am not sure if I will try to work tomorrow or not. I'll just have to wait and see. I was able to shower by myself. And geeze does it hurt to cough! I have been doing my breathing exercises with that machine you blow air into to watch the ball rise. It's been hard, but I have been diligent about doing that.

Please continue to pray for me..and thanks for the prayers already given!

Going to rest, I'll update later..

The night before...

Woo Hoo! I have made it so far! I'm so proud of myself!

First off, the sleep number bed that I'm sleeping on is NOT what it's cracked up to be! I kept switching numbers all through the night trying to get comfortable. Finally got tired of messing with it and fell asleep.

I started my day with what else but my protein shake! My mother bought me some Atkins style protein shakes and I can honestly say I think she saved my life. Last week I received the powder protein and have tried every way imaginable to doctor them so that they won't taste so bad. I've looked up so many recipes on the internet. Chopped ice, cubed, frozen, chilled, with fruit, spices, milk, water, frozen fruit...you name it...I've tried it! I just couldn't hardly get them down. I think it might have been a texture thing. But thanks to my mother...we have found one I think is pretty good.

Anyway, Pre-op appt. at 1:00 went great. I got to meet my doctor and nurses. And guess what? I lost 7 pounds on my Pre-Op diet! And because I did, they said I could go out tonight and have anything I wanted to eat! As long as it was before midnight! Woo Hoo!!! No shakes for supper tonight! Now...what to eat???

I have to be at the shopping mall...ugh..I mean.. surgery center in the morning at 7:30am. (tee hee)
My surgery is at 8:30am. It is about a 20 minute procedure. Then recovery for a little while. After about an hour in recover I will have have to have a barium swallow and x-ray to make sure that the band is in place and everything is good. Then back to the hotel we go. I won't see the doctor for another 5 weeks.

I'm still so shocked that the time is finally here! Ok, I'm off to find something to eat! Yum Yum! I'm so excited about getting to eat tonight! :)

Finally here...

Ok, So we arrived in Dallas today around 3:45pm. My husband wanted to make sure we didn't arrive during 5 o'clock traffic, which we didn't so it was good to finally get here.

We have driven around town to get a feel of where we are located, and wanted to find the Dr.'s ofc. and such, so we will know where we are going tomorrow.

My Pre-Op appt. is at 1:00pm tomorrow. Not sure what to expect, but will post as soon as I know.

Ok, and I have to say this...We found the Surgery Center and it looks like its located in some sort of shopping mall! Seriously! OMG! I even saw a fudge shop around the corner! I'm not sure what I expected...maybe something more hospital like. LOL! But really, its like a shopping mall with all these shops around. I will admit it kind of freaked me out. I know, I know don't judge and now days there are lots of little surgery centers open that are wonderful, but yes.... it still freaked me out.

If I get a chance, I will have to take pictures. But for now, I'm in the hotel and resting.

I would like to say thanks to all who are sending prayers up for me! I feel so blessed to know you are thinking about me. And to my wonderful sister Kacy, thanks so much for this blog, (that I'm still figuring out)..and for your love and support! I know I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful sister. Thanks so much!

5 Days and Counting...

I am now 5 days away from surgery, and I'm wondering how it got here so fast. I still feel like I have a ton of things to do before surgery.

Pre-Op Diet....well all I can say is "yuck." I received my chocolate and vanilla high protein shakes in the mail and my husband has been experimenting with different ways to fix them. I am liking the chocolate over the vanilla, but then again I'm a chocolate lover! I have stuck to my diet and had 2 shakes a day, and low Atkins style meal in the evening. It hasn't been as bad as I thought and I only have 5 days left of shakes! (Whew)

I am definitely getting more excited. Possibly a little nervous too but definitely excited. I have told my family and closest friends who I know will be a major support system for me. Only 3 people at work know right now. I haven't decided when to tell them before or after.....

Church was great today. Our Pastor gave a very inspirational message.

Well, I'm off to do laundry and such...