So I thought I was going to be getting the drainss pulled today, but NO! 
Apparently the tubes are still gathering enough drainage that they need to stay a few days longer.  I'm bummed, but clearly would rather wait a few days than pull them prematurely and then have to go in and have the excess fluid removed by way of needle..... yikes.  So now the big day is planned for wednesday am at 9:30.  It's only a two day delay, but dang.... I was really looking forward to taking a shower... Oh well.

Other than that, I'm feelin great, hanging out, being lazy, feeling well enough to actually feel kind of guilty.... yeah, don't worry.... I've already gotten over the guilt.  It's just that I'm used to only being home when I am sicker than a dog and feeling like crud, so this is kind of nice.

Just a quick update... things are still going great!  Every hour is an improvement.   Side to side movements are pretty sensitive, but abdonimal movements are becoming less and less of a problem.  I am taking fewer and fewer pain meds and actually feel like a normal person again.  I can't wait for tomoorw to get the drains removed... Dr H says that's when you really start feeling better!  I have been so blessed!  Steve has been amazing!  I credit him with the lions share of my recovery!  I am so fortunate to have him!!!!
Time for a bandage change and then a drive into town.... I need some fresh air!!!!
Hope everyone is doing well!
Sue

So the plastic surgery is done!  And I am pleased to say that I have not followed the pattern of some of the folks that had a harder time with their recovery.  I have been so blessed!  I'm feeling good, the drains are out of the arms already, the drains are expected to be removed from the abdomine on Monday, the pain is definitely there but definitley managable.  Arms are not painful at all, belly (sides in particular) are sore with any unwise/fast movement.  No problems with the meds.  And every hour is an improvement from the last.... unless I forget to take my meds and then try and figure out why I have more pain all of a sudden.... duh.  So are you ready for this..... 15 pounds!!!... Dr Havard removed 15 pounds of tissue!!! He was very suprised at the amount and had origianlly estimated about 7-8 pounds to be removed.  Now, I won't see that on the scale for a while as I am still pretty puffy from the surgery.  The whole thing is very surrealistic.... and I just took a pain pill.... so I'm going to sign off for right now to make sure my blog doesn't get randomly surrelaistic as well.
Thanks to everyone for all of your prayers!  Once again, they worked and I have been truly blessed with a smooth recovery.
OK, off to la la land :)

So I had my preop appointment today for my plastic surgery!  I KNOW!!! Can you believe it?!  I can't even begin to tell you how weird it feels to know that, on top of already not recognizing myself in the mirror, things are going to change again... change a lot.... and soon!  My surgery is on March 4 (3 wks from tomorrow-tuesday).  I'm the first one on the list that morning for surgery so I have to be there at 6am.  I'll be off work for two weeks with my promise to Dr Havard that I will extend it past 2 weeks if I am not totally up for it.  I didn't have any problems recovering from the RNY (or any previous surgeries/injuries) and I don't anticipate any problems with this.... though I am the first one to admit that I have never had any incisions like this before so I will definitely extend my leave if I need to.  I can't believe that it is only 3 weeks until my surgery.  The doctor showed me a line about half way down my torso and said that is where he expects to remove all of the skin below and that line will be pulled down and connected to the incision just above the pubic line.  I suppose, since none of you have seen me naked (you're welcome!) that doesn't mean much, but picture, on yourself, a line halfway between the base of your sternum/center of your ribcage and your waist.... then picture all of the extra stretched out skin below that being removed.....  that's crazy intense!  And (I love this) the official medical diagnosis is 'soft tissue redundancy'... does anyone else find that amusing?  I'm not fat, I just have redundant soft tissue! 
They will also be tightening the abdominal muscles, closing up a valley/separation between the muscle bands in my abdomine.  I am happy about that (better muscle tone eventually) and bummed (more painful recovery) but that's ok.... the pain is short term, the gain is for the rest of my life.
I am also having my arms done at the same time.  I'm not sure which procedure I am most excited about!  I can't wait to get rid of the 'flying squirrels', but I also can't wait to get rid of the hangy tummy and the jiggly torso. 
And they took pictures today... not as torturous as I thought it would be. 
So now I focus on getting everything ready (to do list for work done so other folks can cover my desk for me while I'm gone) so I can recover from surgery with no thoughts of things 'to do'.
More later!  Love to you all!

I am so excited!  I'm overweight!  I'm not morbidly obese.  I'm not obese.   I am now officially, according to the BMI chart, just OVERWEIGHT!!!  Now, I don't have any delusions of reaching the chart's 'normal weight' range.... I would need to be 164 or less, and that would just be silly!  So I am perfectly thrilled and content to be 'overweight'.  

My other exciting news is that I am scheduled for my plastitc surgery and will be having my preop on Feb 11 and my surgery (tummy and arms) on March 4!!!!  This is just crazy... I'm having a hard time believing it's been a year since surgery and that I'm at goal, let alone the fact that I am preparing for plastic surgery.  

I'm really having a hard time wrapping my brain around the PS thing.... the WLS was definitely something that I did 'for me', bit it was clearly a medical need.  The plastic surgery is really just for me.  When I tell people I'm having PS they tell me, "Why?  You look great!  You don't need plastic surgery!."  ...to which I must say "You clearly have not seen me naked!"  My husband, though very supportive, appreciative and excited about my transformation, does not care about the skin.  So this is clearly for me.  And this isn't just a gee-I-love-that-handbag kind of 'for me'... we are talking about the price of a car (used maybe, but still the price of a car.)  As women, our minds tend to go towards the needs of our husband, kids, home, patients, coworkers, students etc and not often (to this degree at least) to our own wants.  The other thing that I'm realizing is that having the PS is another level of commitment to my new life.  When you purge your closet of the clothes you never wear anymore, it is so easy see that empty closet rod and promptly fill it with more clothes, whether we need them or not.  I will be physically getting rid of the empty space, the empty luggage that could otherwise be filled up again with unneeded baggage and weight.  Not that I have any intention of ever crossing that 200 line ever again... it's just another layer of emotional realization and commitment to the new me.

Now, that being said.... Bring it on baby!!!  
I am not scared or worried about the surgery.  I know that the recovery is pretty painful, but short lived.  I know I have already added so many years on to my life with the weightloss.... now I get to add a new level of enjoyment to those added years.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year!!!  
This year is going to be a doozy, don't you think?!