So, I've been a really bad blogger this year, but it's been a really bad year.  In March my husband of 11 years decided that he wasn't in love with me anymore and he left.  I filed for divorce in April, and we are in the progress of learning to coparent our daughter while being as civil as possible in the difficult situation we have found ourselves in.

In May, we lost a close family friend to cancer.  We watched him fight and suffer for eight months, and although losing him was painful, letting him go was the best thing anyone could have done.  I have great respect for his wife and children, who made the decision to remove life support and let him go peacefully on to Heaven. 

Two weeks after we lost Frank, our fifteen year old dog also passed away.  All of this in the first six months of the year!  Needless to say, we all need a break, but the year has kept plugging on, and I have seen my friends and family struggle through so many difficulties this year that remembering our blessings can be difficult.  However, because I know that God doesn't give us more than we can handle, I know that in the end all of the hardship will have taught us a lesson, and we will be stronger for it.

Now, on to the reason most of you visit this blog.  (all two of you, that is!)  I am 1 year and 8 months post operation, and have lost 123 pounds to date, bringing my weight to 218 pounds from 341 pounds.  I am feeling so much better and more energetic, and I am also learning to love myself again.  I've started dating, and met someone who means the world to me, but we'll have to wait to see where that goes.  I'm hopeful, so if you're in the mood to pray for something, pray for this to be a happy and healthy relationship for me.

Now, what you've been waiting for, my most recent pictures... 

This is from June, 2012, about 98 pounds lost

This is August, 2012, around 110 pounds lost

This is just a few days ago, 123 pounds total lost

OK, OK - So It's a Monthly Publication...

A little over a month since my last post. I had my last check-in with Dr. Dallal on July 13, and I had lost 16 pounds since my last weigh-in, bringing my weight to 284.4, and my total weightloss to 49.6 pounds. I am posting a "current" pic here - I don't see a difference, but my clothes are DEFINITELY getting toooooo big! My next appointment is August 17. I promise, if I don't post before that, I will definitely post then!

I'M THE WORST BLOGGER IN THE WORLD!!!

I get caught up in every day life and forget to post... SO SORRY!  My second fill was last week, on June 8.  I have 5 cc's of saline in my band thus far.  My total weight loss is 32.8 pounds, even, and I weigh 300.4 pounds.  I came SO CLOSE to breaking the 300 pound barrier!  I was disappointed and excited all at the same time.  Ah, well, I am working hard to be under that 300 mark by my next appointment on July 13.

I haven't had problems eating, thus far, and I am really not feeling any blockage or pain from any foods, with the exception of bread, which I have mostly been avoiding.  I've been walking for exercise, and this weekend, I played kickball, Monkey in the Middle, and modified volleyball at the park with Abby.  I'm trying to add in more and more exercise, so I am hopeful that it will increase my weight loss totals as I go along. 

Until next time,
May God Bless and Keep You all,
Love,
Amy

Update - Long Overdue

Hello, everyone.  I apologize for the amount of time between updates.  It's been a busy week, and a sad one for us.  A dear friend lost a close family member suddenly, and we've been dedicating our time, energy, love, and prayers to them all week.

Right to the update.  I have moved into the Phase III diet, and I am VERY excited about mashed potatoes and ground up meat.  Never thought I'd say THAT!

Here's what I can eat for the next two weeks:

Puree/Baby Food Consistency - Weeks 3 and 4

Continue with the fluids from the previous two weeks, and add the following:

Scrambled eggs, pureed tuna, poultry, fish, veal, beef, and mashed tofu (ICK)

Light/nonfat yogurt, non-fat cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, 1% milk

Any vegetable, cooked until soft and pureed

Unsweetened apple sauce, mashed bananas, pureed fruits sans peels

Oatmeal, cream of wheat, grits, mashed potatoes

Soups blended and strained, sugar free pudding, custard, or frozen yogurt

SO yummy!!!  I've lost two pounds since last week's weigh-in, bringing my grand total to 28 from my pre-op diet and 30 altogether.  YAY, ME!

I'd like to take this moment to wish you all a happy Easter, and to remember what was sacrificed for us when Jesus died on the cross and rose again.  Be good to one another!

Until next time, God bless and keep you all.

Love,
Amy

One Week Post-Op

HEY!!! I'm back, lol. Today was my one-week checkup post-op.  Dr. Dalall said I am a bit dehydrated, and suggested drinking even more water.  He also took all of the dressings off of my incisions and told me that they look great.  I scheduled an appointment in 3 weeks for my first fill.

I also got clearance to begin my Phase II diet.  That diet includes the following items:

Nonfat Milk

Plain or Blended Yogurt

Blended Soup/Cream Soup

Sugar Free pudding

Fat Free Cottage Cheese

Oatmeal

Grits (KISS MY!)

Rice Cereal

2-3 Protein Shakes per day

Never in my life was I so excited to see a container of Chobani!  It was delicious!  

The doctor also told me that I should wait to travel by airplane.  This is really disappointing to me because one of my best friends is getting married in May.  I had planned to be there, but my six-weeks post-op fly date doesn't make the cut.  I considered flying anyway, but I know that it would be stupid to do so.  I am doing this for my health, so endangering my health first thing is kind of counter-productive.

Oh, the best part of today's trip to the doctor???  The weigh-in!  I weighed in at 305.6 pounds!!!  My first reaction was to ask if the scale was right.  I weighed myself at home just before we went, and I was 310.2.  The doctor told me that "this scale cost a lot of money and is calibrated every day.  Your scale is wrong."  YAY!  My scale is wrong!

Here is my most recent picture - 1 week post-op:

Total weight lost:  24.6 pounds from the start of my pre-op diet.  I am very happy with all of the progress, and I hope to continue on this path until I meet my goals.  More later!

May God bless and keep you,

Love,
Amy

Five Days Post-Op

Hello, all.  It's five days post-op and I'm doing allright.  I'm still pretty tired, and being awake for more than 4 or 5 hours at a time is hard.  I nap during the day, so it helps that I can do that.

Abby has had to adjust to handling mommy with care, and that's been hard for her.  Even harder is that I have to refrain from picking her up, pulling her onto my lap, etc.  I find myself reaching for her and have to stop myself.  By the time I get used to it, I'll be able to pick her up again!

So I'm feeling pretty nauseous a lot of the time.  It's hard to live on liquids only but with a queasy stomach, it's not as hard as it could be.  I hate feeling this way and hope it passes soon.  I'm trying to drink more so that I don't become dehydrated, and hopefully after my appointment tomorrow I'll be able to add some more foods to my diet.  We will see what Dr. Dalall says tomorrow.

I have lost a total of 16.8 pounds and now weigh 313.4 pounds.  That's pretty exciting, but not really surprising, considering that I am only ingesting fluids.  Hopefully I continue to lose once I start eating real food in 3 weeks (!!) 

More tomorrow after my follow-up appointment.  Until then...

May God Bless and Keep you all,

Love,

Amy

Day Two Post-Op

Day two has passed rather quietly. I enjoyed my chicken broth for breakfast wit some beef broth for lunch and dinner. I very much enjoyed my lunch with my husband and especially the cup of tea afterward. I'm very sore, and my throat hurts because of the intubation, but overall, I'm not doing badly. My Abby has been by my side most of the time when she's home, taking care of mama. Sweetest girl in the world!

I am making sure I do my breathing exercises and walking around to prevent blood clots, so I am working on following my doctor's orders and doing what I should. I am off for now. We are going to enjoy some tv and relaxation. Have I mentioned how fantastic my husband is? If not, consider it mentioned!

God Bless and Keep you all,
Love,
Amy

That was Just the Beginning

Well, I am home from the hospital. Surgery went well, and I am just hanging out with my pain meds. Just wanted to check in for now. More tomorrow.

The Day Before

Hello, out there!  I just got off of the phone with the nurse, and have my surgery schedule information.  I will need to arrive at the hospital at 6:00 a.m.  I am both excited and dreading tomorrow.  I just wish that they could Genie it in, and I wouldn't have to have surgery. 

I know, I know.  I keep saying that. 

SO...  I have lost more weight.  My last weigh-in was 321, which is 9 lbs. lost altogether in the last two weeks.  Not bad.  I do know that I could NOT stay on a protein-shake veggie diet of 800 calories a day for much longer without going insane.  I know I have a week of liquid dieting ahead of me, and then a week of more liquid dieting after that, but I think I can handle it - let's face it, I have to handle it!

OK.  Once more, I ask you all for your prayers and support as I go into the surgery.  Thanks for stopping by.  My next post will probably be post-op, so wish me luck, and say a prayer!

God Bless and Keep you all,
Love,
Amy

OK - I've been remiss, I KNOW!

Hello, everyone...  I know, it's been a while.  I'm preparing for surgery in two days (GASP) and I have mixed feelings.  I am excited at the possibilities that surgery will afford me, and I am TERRIFIED of the actual surgery itself.  I am alternately crying and happy.  I just worry that something will happen during surgery and I won't be here for my Abby afterward.  It scares me a great deal.  Please, pray for me.  For courage, and for my doctor's success in surgery. 

Anyway, enough about that.  I also wanted to let you all know that my weight is now 322.4.  That is almost 8 pounds lost (7.8) in a bit under a week.  Tomorrow I am on fluids only, and cannot eat after midnight.  Following surgery, my diet looks like this:

Week 1

Diet Jell-O

Broth

Light juice

Diet drinks (no carbonation)

Water

Sugar-free Popsicles

Sugar-free Waterice

up to 48oz. of fluid/day

Vitamins

1 Chewable Multivitamin

1500 mg. of chewable calcium

50 mg. of Iron

Doesn't it sound YUMMY!?!?  :)  I'm psyching myself up for it now.  After I've suceeded at living on clear fluids for a week, I move on to...  MORE fluids!  I'll post my 2nd week post-op diet after surgery. 

Tomorrow I will learn what time surgery is scheduled.  I'll post more once that information is available to me.  Until then...

God bless and keep you all,

Love,
Amy