Can't help it but I'm really proud of myself.

I really can't help it but I've never been so proud of myself. For those of you know me, you know that I'm really hard on myself most of the time but I just want you to know that I was I lost two more pounds than I needed to for my weight loss goal! I freaking did it! It wasn't easy and there were moments of weakness but I worked really hard. I truly am proud of myself. I've learned some things about myself that people tell but I've never really believed. I'm a pretty strong person. I've been hit with somethings and worked through it. I'm also pretty determined. I can get things done. I'm really glad that this new found confidence is coming at the same time as the surgery. I know the road ahead isn't going to be easy and I'm going to need all of the confidence and support that I can get.

Now, on to the update portion. My appointment was on Thursday at 3:00pm. I might have said this before, but I don't eat on weigh in days. So, someone who is used to eating 4 times a day, was starving! Anyways, I was so excited when I weighed in that I hardly contain it. Even though I weigh every week, I still worry. So, Dr. B was super pumped too! I had to fill out some paperwork. The first was a long list that was my consent to surgery. On this list was a four page list of possible complications. I read like the first have page and stopped because they were kinda freaking me out. So, I skimmed the next three pages until the complication "Complications in future pregnancies" came on the list. We all know this is why I am doing this so I asked Dr. B what this meant. His answer was that now that I'm not eating all of this bad stuff, I may not get all of the vitamins I need. Which kind made me laugh. Bad stuff have vitamins too?! Anyways, he said that as long as I take all of the necessary vitamins when I'm pregnant (pre-natal, B12 shot, etc..) that I should have a very health pregnancy. There's no reason why not. I just to do what the physician's say when I get pregnant and make sure that I use a WeightWise nutritionist so that I can can a healthy preganancy weight and then again so I can the weight off after pregnancy. That answer was good enough for me so I signed on the dotted line with my consent. Next, I had to go through the anesthesia consent that asked a bunch of medical questions blah blah blah. So, I should be fine. The only other thing that Dr. B warned me about is that will all of the gas and liquid during surgery, I will weigh more post-op than I did pre-op. He told me that he was proud of all my hard work and thanked me for being such a cooperative patient. And hugged me and patted Johnathan on the butt. I still laugh when I think about it.

Speaking of Johnathan, I have no bigger supporter than my husband. He has ate all of the same things with me and went to the gym with me all without complaining. He has told me every day what a wonderful job that I am doing and stood beside me as I griped and complained about being hungry and whining about not wanting to go to the gym. He has lost 55 pounds to my 43. I am so proud to call him my husband. He is everything that I have ever dreamed of and more. God sure has blessed me with a husband like him. When you see him, please tell him what a wonderful job he has done!

Next, the lab came in and took some blood to do some pre-op testing. They are testing for my blood count and the other basic stuff including my calcium which we all know was dangerously low. If my blood count is low, then my surgery is off but I'm not aniticipating anything wrong with that. If my calcium is low then I just continue taking prescription calcium until they are back to normal.

Finally, my Patient Advocate came in to give me pre-op instructions. Summitt Medical Center will notify me a few days before my surgery to let me know what time to come in. I think we are deciding whether or not to stay in OKC overnight on Monday. There is a group that I'm interested in attending. It's about workout shoes. There's a store in OKC that measures your feet to see what ttype of workout shoe is best for your feet. It sounds pretty interesting and we all know how much I love group (insert sarcasm here). Anyways, we are still in discussion about it. At midnight on the 27th, I can't eat and only drink clear liquids. I'm kinda nervous about it because I'm working and I'm worried about smelling food and being miserable, but I have a great team that surrounds me and I know I have the support that I will need. I also have to shower the day/night before and the day of the surgery and use some special soap. It starts with an H and they sell it at Walgreens or Walmart. Anyway, I have to wash my entire belly including my bellybutton with this soap. I also need to drink as much fluid as possible to get me ready for surgery. I only had one final question: Can I wear my own PJs. And the answer is yes. I can pick out my own so I'm going to get a couple of new pairs of cute ones!

It's so close that I have a range of different emotions. I'm excited and scared. I'm ready for it to be over;however, I'm not excited about the discomforts that I am sure to face.

Another plus side is that I actually know quite a few people who have had this surgery and had great success with it. I've heard a few "horror" stories but mostly things have gone great with people. I've had questions answers and recieved both good and bad advice. Who knows, maybe a year or so from now this blog will become a pregnancy blog and then a parenting blog. There are still so many possibilities.

I go back on Wednesday to a Post-Op diet class. I will learn about the different phases from liquid to soft food to real food. I will blog all about it. Promise :).

For now, like always, just add us to our prayer list. I know that at times I can get a little scared and even though he won't admit it, I know that Johnathan is a little nervous. I've made a few "life insurance" jokes and he is starting to get aggrevated at them. Anyways, just keep us in your prayers and think about us. Oh, and I will only be in the hospital overnight but everyone is welcome to drop by. I just ask that you not send goodie bags with candy to the hospital (obviously).

Thanks for reading and look forward to writing the next one!