Hello everyone! My name is Ivrie.  I am a 32 yr old wife and mother of 3.  I work F/T out of the home and run around most of the time like a chicken with her head cut off.  I have a 10yr old son, 8yr old son and a 2yr old daughter, who all keep me on my toes.  I've been married to my husband for 10yrs. 
    What is my story? Well, I've, in my mind, have been over weight for most of my life.  I come from a family of chubby cheeks on my paternal side.  I think the fact that we have round faces and chubby cheeks gave me the complex of being "fat".  I remember from very little thinking I was fat.  I loved the Muppets as a little girl, especially Miss Piggy because she was so "fancy" ya know.  I remember having a poster in my room of her dressed kinda like Marilyn Monroe in purple.  The earliest memory of me thinking I was fat was of my Uncle of mine calling me "Miss Piggy" as a nickname.  I think he did it as a cute term of endearment, but it stuck with me and gave me what I feel is the complex I have today. 
    My first real attempt at trying to lose weight was back in the late 80's when I was in Jr. High.  I remember my mother taking me to the next town to Weight Watchers. There they took a picture of me and computerized it to show me what I would look like if I lost weight.  I remember my mom buying me all the yucky meals.  That was short lived. 
    All through High School I remember feeling like I was fat.  One particular memory that sticks out was of a comment made to me by my so called "best friend" at the time.  She mentioned to me that a guy we knew asked her if her "chubby friend" had a date to the Winter Ball.  That really hurt, especially since this guy was known as a bit of a nerd.
    After looking back at photos, I can't believe I ever thought I was fat! At 5'3" and only 135lbs in HS I was exactly where I should be, but I was convinced I was fat, especially with the comments that surrounded me.
    As time has past I have progressively gained more weight.  I cannot think of a time I've ever gone down in weight, it's always been up.  With time, and the birth of my children I have gone up and up.  I am now at the heaviest I have ever been, 237.  Just recently for the first time I had the horrifying comment made to me "ohhhhhhhhhh, your gonna have a baby!" I said, "No, I had a baby, she's 2!"
    Now why is it I have decided along with my PCP to go through the steps to have RNY?  Well, I'm in  my 30's and I am not losing weight after trying for YEARS.  My paternal side of the family has every weight related illness there is.  My father is only 52 and had Type II diabetes insulin injections, sleep apnea where he has to sleep with a machine, hypertension, high cholesterol, acid reflux, you name it, he has it.  His father, my Grandpa past away 4yrs ago at the age of 69 due to all of that.  All of my aunts and uncles have this stuff! My biggest reason to have surgery is my family has all developed these health issues in their mid 30's! Remember, I'm now 32.  I cannot dance with my little girl for more than a minute with out running out of breath.  I cannot climb my one flight of stairs in my home with out losing my breath.  I do not want to wait to get diabetes.  I do not wait till my kids are grown to still be over weight and wish I would have done something about it along time ago.  Now is my time.
    I’ve done much research, talked to my PCP, met with Dr. Morton at the Stanford Bariatirc Center.  I know this is the right step.  I’m looking at this as a new chapter in my life where the story turns around and ends up being a “happily ever after” story rather than a sad horror story.

Thanks for reading my story.  There was a lot more that could be told, but I think I covered the just of it.