Well, down a bit more. My food for the day has been pretty good. Half a packet of oatmeal, 1/2 cup of chowder with a saltine in it, 2-3oz mashed potatoes, and a scrambled egg with cheddar cheese on it. I didn't get a protein shake in today, should have, though. I finally ordered Hair, Skin , and nails today along with b12's for just in case. Only thing I have left to order is the ADEK's, looks like. I'll probably order from that guy with the family pharmacy for $19/month. My knees have really been painful today. I'm really getting concerned about this development... my knees are bothering me more than any other surgery post op thing!

Well, I got home a few nights ago and I'm doing fine! I've been on soft foods a few days now. I've had soups, scrambled eggs, soft cheese (laughing cow type), oatmeal, pintos and cheese from Taco Bell, and of course, mashed potatoes from KFC. I don't like the gravy, so I just added more butter, yum! I was excited to have lost 25 pounds when I got home, now it's to 30 pounds gone. I've been having trouble with the knees, so I haven't been that good about walking yet while at home. I actually did better in Spain about that! Maybe because there wasn't much else to do. At home, I can always find something to distract me!

I have to say that I believe that my experience was life changing in Spain. Not just because of the surgery, but because of my time to reflect and read. I have been reading the Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, and Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential by Joel Osteen. Both books have been spectacular and were just wait I needed at the time. I was especially impacted by Joel's book and the way it reminded me that joy is really a choice in the moment, and life is a process not a destination. Other bits of information....I think I wrote about my papers and how worried I was about my grades. Well... I got an A in both classes. Silly me, I need to stop getting so worked up and stop procrastinating, it will make life so much easier! Eventually, it'll happen, I know.

As far as life being easier, I can't wait to get down another 20 or so pounds and get under 400. My right leg is numb and has some shooting pains some of the time up the thigh, and I'm sure it's from the extra pressure of the weight on a nerve. Soon, that'll go away! Update for the day. I decided to list a bit of what I've eaten today. I think this is all I had: scrambled egg, 2 laughing cow cheese bites (tiny), protein shake (vanilla cinnamon ids), string cheese, 1/2 cup of Ivar's chowder (after which I felt overfull so I laid down and slept a few hours), sf jello cup, and that's it! I don't think I'll be having any problems with calories for today! My trainer Nicole was funny, she was saying something about watching calories, and I was thinking, Calories? I don't need to worry about no stinking calories! When I went to the gym, we figured out that the reason my knees may hurt so badly is that when I was walking in Spain I didn't have good supportive shoes. Hopefully, then, after a few more days, the pain will go away, the joints are maybe just inflamed. So...I've taken some ibubrofen, and I've iced my knees a few times today. Right leg numbing hasn't been as bad today.

Well, at least 435 was my official surgery weight. I had surgery a week ago on 3/10/05. As far as surgery itself, I can only sound like everyone else when I say I LOVE Dr. Baltasar! As of today, I am feeling pretty great. I won´t take the time to explain everything now but, it did go smoothly, and all is well. No complications, I´ve had very little pain. Right now we´re staying in Benidorm Spain which I highly recommend! It is one of the 3 largest resort towns in all of Europe. It reminds me a little of Waikiki. I´m getting the walking and drinking in, still on liquids right now,but try to make sure I am drinking every 3 minutes. Blessings to you all, and I love the new look for my site! Especially since I am staying on the beach overlooking the Mediterranean, and I very much love the sea!

This was our balcony from the Les Dunes Suites overlooking the Meditarranean!

This was down on the promenade. There were people building sand castles and all sorts of things on the beach. Considering I am less than 2 weeks out from surgery I think I am doing great!

I will weigh myself in a week when I get home on the 25th and see how much (if any) I have lost.

Had to update my weight. I can't wait to leave today. Once again, see you on the other side! Blessings, Jill

 

Well, I can't believe how fast the time has gone. I leave for Spain tomorrow. I wanted to make one last post from this side. I am so thankful that I am able to do this - and it's really a miracle from God, and my mother. I can't wait til I have a life again. I have noticed the past few weeks how rare it is that my phone rings, and how rare it is that I call others, because, it's so much effort to get out there and see people right now. I had to turn down dinner at a friends because I couldn't handle going up the small incline to their condo. Granted, I had been sick for a few days, but it's really crazy to be so limited. I have been gasping for breathe if I walk across the room, and have been using my inhalers MUCH more often. My bladder often doesn't cooperate if I'm just getting out of bed and I have to get to the bathroom in a hurry! I will soon be switched, and I truly am looking forward to getting a new life. 2005 is the year of change - I am 40 years old, and I'm ready for my new life to begin. I know it will include challenges, and require perserverance, but, I know I can do it, through God! I had a revelation the other day. I have had the thought in my mind that I felt was the Lord for years that he would change me from the inside out. I always thought that meant all of my heart attitudes and my issues would be resolved and then my outside would follow suit. Well, I had to laugh the other day when I thought about this surgery, and how it's going to change me from the inside out, too! Changing around my insides will make it very hard for my body to retain this weight - thank goodness! See you all on the other side. With love, Jill