It's official...I'm MELTING....

I went to my first post-op Dr appointment today. I am officially...by their scales...down 36 pounds!!!!! WHOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!  I think it might be more by my scales, but whatever...as long as the direction is DOWN, I can live with it!!!  

The Dear Dr. said that I am doing great, my wounds are healing fine, my BMI is down by SIX points!! The only thing I told him was that I wasn't getting enough water...close, but not quite enough. So he said to be vigilant about that. I then met with the nutritionist and told her what I have been eating and she was pleased as well. Of course everyone reminded me, now that I am off of pureed foods, to chew chew chew chew chew everything into oblivion. The Dr. said..."If you think the bite is small enough, cut it in half...if you think you have chewed it enough, chew it 10x more."

I am totally blown away at how quickly I am getting mobility back. Don't get me wrong, I'm not walking around the block yet or anything close, but I am not using my cane much...I keep leaving it elsewhere in the house and wander around looking for it. I am in the kitchen now getting dinner ready for the clan and I was so excited to not only wash up some pots and pans, get the chili going, and start some eggs to hard boil, clean up my mess and throw all the trash in the trash can all before I even looked around for my kitchen chair. Believe me...that is huge for me at this point!!!! I've already been warned (David and my Daddy) not to overdo it and not to do too much yet. I know...I know...but it felt so good to be a little bit NORMAL!!!!!

I am sleeping better than I have in a long long time. I think I might have finally gotten a handle on the ankle cramps I was getting at night. I knew it wasn't a potassium issue, but I finally determined that it was something I could stop by taking my muscle relaxer before bed and doing a good bit of leg stretches and ankle stretches during the day. I haven't had any more cramping episodes in several nights. Thank GOD...it was getting REALLY old!!!!

So, after we left the Dr. office today we had a quick lunch (quick...that's funny...it takes me and David FOREVER to eat now!!!!) Anyway, I got some broccoli cheddar soup and a 1/2 Cuban sandwich...I can't eat the bread, but I just ate the meat/cheese off the sandwich and ate most of the cup of soup. Actually the meat was a bit dry and not going down too well, so Aly gave me the turkey off of her mini turkey slider that she didn't want. That went down perfectly!

I pulled out some of the chili from the freezer that I made last month and we are going to have that for dinner tonight. I still am amazed that just 2 oz of that will totally fill me up!! Well, probably closer to 3oz. I eat 2 oz of protein and 1 oz of veg or fruit.

Tomorrow we are heading to the beach for the day...can't wait...we haven't been in a long time and I love the beach so!!!

So, have I told you about my incredible husband? Well, I owe him for so much of my success thus far. He has been amazing and has helped me to navigate all of it. Literally bite by bite of food, step by step through the pain after surgery and everything in between. He has been my rock through it all. I can't imagine having gone through this without his constant love and support!!!! I love you baby!!!!

To all two of you who are following this blog...thanks for stopping by!!! God Bless you!!!

Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.  PS 86:11

 

In HIS Mighty Grip

Shelley

A Good Evening...

Well, I am starting to feel a good bit more normal again. My hubby and girls took me out last night. We usually head out to the Disney Store at the Outlet Mall on Friday nights for a Disney Pin Trading group, then we head out to dinner afterwards. So, we decided to go for it. But, what to do about dinner? Well, I figured...worst case scenario, I could just get some mashed potatoes and gravy. So, David and I decided to get a dinner and split it...well, not really split it as I am only eating about 2-3 oz of anything!!!  Anyway, we got some very tender roast and I pulled off a little bit of it. I got a spoon full of mashed potatoes, one carrot, and a for full of green beans...oh, and I asked the waitress for a big bowl of gravy so I could get it down!!!!
I was so thankful to have David there to talk me through each bite. Were talking bites like the size of my fingernail here...plus lots of gravy and chewing it until my jaw about popped off. It was basically liquefied before I swallowed anything!!! It was so very good and I ate most of it. I had no problems at all!!! Thank you God!!!!! I couldn't have anything to drink for an hour, and it was perfect timing by the time we got home and changed clothes and got settled in for the evening. Just in time to drink my last shake and take my vitamins. So, my first night out, eating normal, non pureed food was a rousing success!!
Speaking of shakes, someone asked me what shakes I use. I am currently drinking PURE protein shakes. They have 23 gr of protein, 3 carbs and the frosty chocolate is actually pretty good if I add about 4 oz of unsweetened almond milk!!
I tell ya...it is a full time job figuring out how to get in all that I have to get in...AM vitamins, PM vitamins, Iron pill ( can't take within 2 hours either way of any calcium), two protein shakes, 100 oz water (or other sugar free drinks/liquids) and four very small protein meals...and you can't drink anything for one hour after eating!!!! ARGH  By the way, I have decided that it is NOT a happy thing to go for an hour after eating pureed tuna before drinking something!!!!! YUCK!!! Had to go brush my on that one!!!!
So, as of yesterday morning I have lost 29 lbs since surgery on the 14th. I was so so so so stoked!! God is so good and so faithful and has brought us through David's surgery and now mine and we are so excited to watch him carve our new lives out of this incredible gift we have been given!!!

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 

                                        II Corinthians 12:9

In HIS Mighty Grip
Shelley

Day six...

It has been six days since surgery. I was starting to worry yesterday that the pain on my left side (where the largest incision is located) would never let up. I had been taking the maximum amount of my pain meds and I was really over it. I tried yesterday to back off on the Lortab, but that was a mistake!!! LOL  Anyway, last night...kind of late...I noticed that I really felt good. I mean, other than the pain on my abdomen, I didn't have any joint pain or back pain, or anything....I just felt, well, normal!!  I decided to go for it an get on the scales. I almost fell off the scales, when I realized that I have lost 21lbs since surgery! Seriously????!!!!! I am truly humbled and amazed!!!  Aly was standing behind me and said, "Well?" I sat back down and told her ...she just hugged me and said, "Way to go Mom!" That made everything worth it!!!!! TOTALLY Worth it!!!! God is good!!!!
This morning I didn't wake up til about 10 and as soon as I sat up I coughed...like a normal cough....and I didn't tear up with pain from it.  <<SIGH>>> I only took a half dose of my pain med! So far I have no regrets...not one. Not for one second!!!!
God is indeed GREAT!!!!
In HIS MIGHTY Grip
Shelley

First Day home...

Good afternoon all!!!  I just finished my first real food since surgery...one oz of pureed egg salad, prepared by my little love muffin Alyson!! It took me about 35 minutes to eat it, but it went down with no problems. Thanking God for no problems!!!! 

I actually slept well last night as well. I got about 6 hours and then got up to move a bit and take my medicine and then I actually went back to sleep for about another 5 hours! I haven't slept that much in many months!!!! What a blessing!!  Lili was so sweet, she asked if she could sleep in the living room with me so she would be nearby in case I needed anything. Oh how I love my beautiful children!!!

In HIS Mighty Grip
Shelley

Home again, home again , jig...

I can't believe that I am home sitting in my own little recliner...WAY more comfy than the recliner at the hospital! I plan to stay right here for a few days! Well, I will be getting up to walk and go to the bathroom and starting tomorrow, I am on puréed foods, so I will be in the kitchen some too!  When I came in today, I went as far as the chair, sat down and promptly took a nap! After I finish my protein shake , I think I will be taking another nap...I'm wiped out! More tomorrow.
Thanks again for all the prayer support...don't stop now...now comes the hard part!!!
In HIS Mighty grip
shelley

...and so it begins...

Well, it is now Thursday night . I survived the surgery and now it begins. When I woke up this morning, my first thought was..."holy cow...survived it...I made it..." it was a pretty exciting to think about!  So after the little fellow came to take me down to XRay to make my new pouch wasn't leaking, we waited at the elevator and I was looking out the big window that stood facing the Intracoastal waterway and the ocean I was immediately moved to tears. All I could think of was that this was the first day of my new life...and how grateful and blessed I felt that God would give me such a beautiful day to start anew!!!!  I am blessed indeed!
The rest of the day went by very slowly, while I took catnaps in between sipping on tea, crystal light, chicken broth and water. Dr. Koppman's came to see me later today and was very pleased. He said everything looked great and I might go home tomorrow!
So, now I am in bed, praying for a goodnights sleep.
Thank you all again for all the. Prayer coverage!
In HIS Mighty Grip
Shelley

Finding me again...

Well. In less than 24 hours I will begin the journey to find Shelley again. Quite frankly I didn't think I was lost, but it crept up so slowly until I was almost completely under that big ole rock before I knew what happened! I don't like it under here...this is NOT me!

Okay, so after months of David driving me crazy trying to save me and nudge me gently to where I am now...what ??? David has never nudged anyone or anything gently! Anyway...her I am. Tomorrow morning David and I will head over to Flagler Hospital and he will hand me over to the very capable hands of my Bariatric surgeon! Wow...that sounded almost like I like the Dr! Those of you who know me, know that he must be pretty amazing for me to let him clip my toenail, much less totally rearrange my insides. I, as a rule, do not trust Drs as far as I can throw them. Well this guy...I trust. He did 

David's surgery last year and he has earned my trust and respect.

So, tomorrow begins the great meltdown...of me. I've had it...can't take it anymore! My husband deserves better, my beautiful babies deserve better! I'm excited, nervous, afraid of failing yet again...oh, the list goes on and on! But, I know that my precious Savior is right there with me and he will be there guiding Dr Koppman's hands, he will be holding my hand as I wake up in recovery, and standing by me as He and I start the process of Finding Me Again!...
David suggested I blog my journey. I wasn't sure...kind of a bit personal to be blogging about, but

I will try to faithfully post my journey...I know that I have found great solace in others journeys while I was moving in this direction. Maybe you are facing your own Demons , trying to make tough decisions in your own lives...maybe God will use this to help you see clearly. Whatever the reason...here I am. So grab a cup of joe and join me...
In HIS Mighty Grip~
Shelley