ONE WEEK BANDIVERSARY

So it was yesterday and I totally missed getting to blog about it. Yesterday, was my oldest son's birthday - he turned 11. But it wasn't a very great day for him, poor thing woke up with strep throat. So needless to say I spent two hours getting him to the dr. - strep test, flu test, antiobiotic shot (so we could still do his party this weekend out of town) and then the waiting period to make sure there was no adverse reaction to the shot. What a bummer way to spend his b-day! But he is feeling much better and we are taking him and some friends to Charlottesville, VA this weekend to the UVA/Va Tech Basketball game. Should be fun!!

Okay - now to the good stuff:

Highest Weight 331 (August of 2009 ish)

Pre-Op Diet Start Weight 311.6

Surgery Weight 300

Wait for it, Wait for it......

Week One - 290

Total lost during lapband process - 21.6 --- yippee!

And mushies were great today --- cream of wheat,  mashed potatoes and refried beans!! Yummy!!

Whaaa... (think Snookie from The Jersey Shore)

Okay --- I guess I couldn't get off pain free. I woke up this morning and the port site is screaming in pain. Every time I stand up it feels like it's ripping out of my muscle. Ouch!!!

My other big whine ---- I miss chewing. I can't wait until I have to pulverize my food. I even chewed a slice of banana and spit it out tonight just to remember what it felt like to chew. Is that crazy or what?

On a positive note, I did work all day today. It was at home on my couch - but I got through my 100's of emails, my conference calls and several high priority support issues.

All in all, still a positive experience. I'm very eager to see the results on the scale come Thursday.

Recovery continues.....

Things are still going well for me here in band land. I had to take my On-Q numbing medicine out yesterday. Not sure if any of your surgeons use this, but it was great help for the pain - not a great fashion statement though. It was a grapefruit size ball  attached to a catheter inserted just below my breast bone -- the ball was so fashionably hidden inside a fanny pack. I thought I might pass out when I went to remove the catheter, but it wasn't so bad -- I guess have two boys has built up my tolerance for the grotesque.

The discomfort is a little worse now that I don't have the numbing gel, but I did manage to get down two tylenol this morning after cutting each in half and then taking with hot chicken broth. I was so nervous. I still have a lot of gas -- but no pain, just a lot of burps and trumpees (my English Nana's lady-like word for farts). Walking definitely seems to help with this so my goal is to get in as much walking as possible.

I did manage to get to my son's basketball game and LL baseball assesments yesterday for about three hours total. It was nice to be out and see everyone -- even if I did have to wear the stylish fanny pack!!

I'm finding that it takes a lot of awareness not to just put things in my mouth when I'm making food for my kids or husband. I guess I ate more than I thought I did because it was mindless eating. Knowing I can't do that now is really making me accountable.

Officially Banded!

Well, Ladies! I'm officially banded. My surgery was at 7:30 yesterday - I also had a hiatal hernia repaired during my surgery. I had to stay the night  - my doctor's preference for everyone. I was realeased at about 11:30 this morning.

So far I'm not in any pain. I have an On-Q pouch attached to my stomach that is releasing numbing medicine. It will come out tomorrow so I'm guessing I will have some discomfort tomorrow. I had some difficulty with nausea last night but luckily I was still in the hospital so they were able to take care of it.

I'm okay with drinking the protein shakes about four ounces at a time. I'm having trouble with water though - as soon as I drink a couple ounces I have this horrible pain in my upper chest. It's the weirdest thing.

I had the gas pain in my shoulder for about 7 hours after surgery, but I don't have any of that know so overall I feel pretty lucky.

XOXO,
Veronica

Awards Galore

Thanks so much Christine - phoenixrevolution.net  -- You are such an inspiration!

Here are 7 interesting factoids about me:

1. I have weird Elvis connections - my parents were married on Elvis Pressley's birthday, Elvis Costello sang the song "Veronica" and I dated a guy named Elvis when I was in high school.

2. I was a cheerleader from the time I was 5 until my 10th grade year in high school --- even though I was chubby!!

3. I graduated 8th in my class.

4. I graduated from Va Tech, however I married a die hard UVA fan --- rivalry games are very interesting in my house.

5. I eloped with my husband while I was in college --- everyone in my family thought I was pregnant!

6. I love everything crafts --- my office is full of scrapbook, stamping, sewing, etc. etc.

7. Since my grandmother died from cancer - I try to do anything I can to support cancer research.

I will get my nominees up as soon as possible --- I have three days until the big day so tons to do!!

Awards.....

I received this award from Amanda @ Amanda's Waning -- thanks a so much!!

So here's the deal, I have to list 5 guilty pleasures and then nominate three fabulous and sweet bloggers.

1. A good 'romance' novel and a bubble bath. The juicer the book the better. Time just seems to float away when I have a great book.

2. COACH Purses --- I love a great handbag. Of course I shop at the Coach Outlet store and use coupons. Even then - I only buy one every year or so.

3. Tattoos. I have two, but I'd love to have more. I think my 100lb. goal gift to myself will be a tattoo along the edge of my hand (thumb side) with my band date. To remind me of everything I've gone through to get there.

4. Watching my kids play sports. Deep down I'm a very competitive person, but I've never been fit enough to play sports. Sometimes the games are so intense that my heart starts racing --- it's such a thrill - win or lose.

5. Girls Night Out --- we do this once a month in my neighborhood. There's about 12 of us and we hang out and play games and gossip --- I couldn't do without it.

Here are my nominees for super sweet bloggers:

Dawnya - http://blackbutterflyevolution.blogspot.com/

Angie - http://bandedmommyjourney.blogspot.com/

Jenny - http://hungrygirlsdiary.blogspot.com/

MIA

Wow --- I'm a bad blogger! I have not been on in a week and I feel so bad. I was nominated for great awards and I haven't even been able to accept them yet. I have been busy, busy, busy!!

Things are going well in lap-band land:

Pre-op Labs - Check

Pre-op RN Appt - Check

4 hour Lap-band Class - Check

2 Cases of Light Muslce Milk - Check

Magic Bullet - Check

Started Pre-op Diet Started 1/27 - Check

I have been doing okay on the pre-op diet - some days the hunger pains do better than others. I've been on it for 4 days now and I'm down 6 pounds - which is definitely motivating me to stick to it.

To Do:

Flinestone's Chewables

Find a Calcium Citrate --- Any suggestions?

Get my Presciption for Surgery Day Nausea

Stick to Pre-Op Diet

Does everyone go through this feeling like everything has to be done before surgery day? I feel like I'm stressing about getting the house scrubbed, all the financial papers in order and file my taxes, etc. etc. I don't know if I'm subconsciously worried that something will happen or if it's like some weird nesting syndrome. I just feel like my to-do list is growing everyday. I guess being busy is helping me get through the pre-op diet hunger - so I guess it's not so bad.

Personally - I completed the 1099's for Little League, filed the LL tax return, dealing with registration payments daily, working on thank you letters for our Rockin' for a Cure Benefit and I decided to volunteer to do the accounting for our local Relay for Life event in May. Oh and I've still managed to get my day job in too!!

One our Rockin' team member's husband was just diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer that has spread to his liver - and he's only 32. We are all staying positive and sending him our love and prayers. Please keep my friend Chris in your thoughts!

So all of this sums up where I've been and I hope I don't have to stay away this long ever again!!