It's been 8 short weeks since my weight loss surgery and let me tell you it's been quite a ride!  I am down 57.5 pounds and a whopping 41 inches!  I am now in a size 16 having blasted downward from a size 22 through the 20's and 18's and am now in my size 16's.  Eating is still a challenge as sometimes I just don't want to.  Drinking my water isn't a challenge at all and sometimes I get in not only my 64 oz but another 16 or so.  I am constantly learning what Mr. Oscar the Grouchy Pouchy wants and doesn't wants.  He's a picky little snot - no left overs.  I've even tried warming 'em up on the stove but it too is a no-go.  Oscar is a pompus little brat thinking he runs the show!  (he's right you know)

My diabetes is gone.  My blood pressure is excellent.  My cholesterol is perfect.  My sleep apnea is gone.  I don't snore anymore.  My hubby appreciates that I don't wake him up with my snoring!  My plantar fasceitis is gone, my knees don't hurt and my hips are feeling better.  I've discovered bones where I didn't know there were any!  I feel good!

My hubby calls me his incredible shrinking wife!  He grabs me to snuggle at night and tells me he's gotta get used to the lesser me!  He's so proud of me tho! 

I have a formal board meeting to go to on December 2nd which requires a long formal dress.  I had a couple shashed and neither one will do.  Darn...........gotta go shopping!  Will try and find one at Ross or someplace like that.

This tool so rocks!  I'm losing and feeling better and moving better.  I have good days and bad days but overall I am learning how to take better care of myself, eat better, and make every bite count.  Thanks to everyone here on the board for all the help and good ideas and words of encouragement!  You guys all rock!

and all through the house, not a creature was stirring - except the soon to be un-chubby old broad making a bee-line to the throne room! 

Gosh I hate that stuff!  They try to flavor it up but boy-howdy, it sure don't wanna go down!  The mouth and the belly both start screaming at the same time "EJECT EJECT EJECT"  and you gotta clamp the lips shut and grit your teeth and not let it happen.  I won..... Or did I????  I drank the first bottle (yes, I said first) at 11:00 am per my doctor's instructions.  5.5 hours later when nothing but a bunch of churning and chugging going on, and after talking to the nurse that calls and checks on you the night before, I drank................ewwww, the second one.  Yes, it is nastier the second time because you just know what is going to happen.  Well, 2nd bottle worked. 

I've had the house all to myself except for the pups this afternoon and all they want to do is sleep.  Oh, and bug me for cookies every time I go into the kitchen. 

Laundry's done, house is clean, cookies and thank you card for my night crew guys baked and packaged, bag is packed.  All I have left to do is shower and crawl into bed and set the alarm.

I have such peace tonight.  I know the decision I have made will alter my life for the better.  I know I have made the right decision.  It was a long time coming, but I have faith in God and trust that my surgeon and crew will do a great job.  My friend from Georgia called this afternoon while she was at the airport and we prayed together (gave me mega- goosebumps) and I have had a profound peace since then. 

Joe is out hunting.  My caveman needs to go walk in the woods to find his peace and his center.  His mother tells me all the time that we're perfect together.  She also tells me that I am the only person on the face of this earth that just "gets" him.  Nothing to get.  He gets his space, I get my space, we both work hard and we both enjoy time together.  What else is there?  Perfect harmony.

Toodles my online friends!  I look forward to posting all about my journey and how I've messed with the heads of the nurses (ooooh, I'm a bad one - prankster me!)  I wish I could find a copy of what I wrote for my friend when she was in the hospital.  "The Care and Maintenance of the Tube Up Your Nose".  There is a copy framed behind a nurses station somewhere in Sacramento!

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{ big hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} to all of you.  MoMo

I spent the day with my darling hubby and my adorable step-cretin (ok, I am the evil step momster and he's the step-cretin - that's how much we love each other!)  I baked a bunch of cookies and am now sitting her just chilling.  I talked to a good friend of mine who asked me if I was nervous or anxious about surgery.  My answer was no.........because I was so confident this was the total right decision for my life now.  I took my before pictures and all my measurements.  Yikes.

Tomorrow I go get a pedicure and start washing my bed (we have dogs that love to sleep in my bed) and drinking my wonderful clean out coctail.  Oh, boy. 

I'm off to bed now.  Will write more after surgery

Just got a call from the Doctor's office!!!!!!  Scheduled my consult for Friday August 1st at 9:00 am!  Oh, boy am I stoked.  They're also preparing everything for sending for Insurance Approval!

The Ride Begins!  Yeah.

Also found an activity to do while I'm off work - I'm going to start/finish the book that's rumbling around in my head.  It's funny.  Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails - A Facetious Field Guide to Raising Boys.  I laugh so hard while writing some chapters my face hurts!

Back to work!

Been exercising.  Mowed the lawn, walked the dogs one at a time (who can do 3 large at once?).  Took several naps - it was a designated lazy day.  Looked into buying bowflex.  Getting ready to go camping, come back for doctor appointment, then have 2 more appointments the week after and then in for blood work and then hopefully scheduling surgery.  I need this so bad - I hurt, heartburn, diabetes.  ugh.