Jennifer Z.

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Hey everyone...  Just wanted to take a few to blog a bit.

I am sitting in Paris (yes France) and all I have to do is be on this site! LOL  no - not really - just my clock is messed up and I don't know what time of day it is.  I think I am on Australian time or something b/c I am not sleeping on French or US timezones!

Well - a lot has been going on.  It's been a busy few weeks.  Since my sister left, we found out mom had to have a small malignant tumor taken off her bladder.  Hopefully all is well and this is it.  She does have to have another procedure next week to check another spot.  Hopefully they are nothing.
But I spent the week of July 4 in IL with them.  I drove up so that was kind of nice to get some alone time.  For what ever reason - it also had me lose 8 lbs and I had been REALLY stuck... so this is good news.

We had our plastics consult.  I really like Dr. Kasden.  Very very nice / funny and is one of the best surgeons around. 

2 weeks before that I got a puppy.  Abbey is the love of my life.  She is sooo sweet and cute.  She has dad wrapped around her finger now... wow  that dog is so much fun.  She is half border collie / half blue heeler and all crazy dog!  She is puppy but very smart and so far very easy to train.

And this leads me to being in France!  I can't believe I got here.  This has been a trip of a life time.  Growing up - I studied everything French.  I had the love of the country since before I can remember.  I had a french pen pal, I took french in school, i loved french songs, etc etc etc...  I have ALWAYS wanted to see Paris and the countryside but Paris primarily.

We just never got here.  We never came - don't know why - just didnt.
So we have a new customer at work - Air France but our European offices were going to do the work.  It's obvious that they needed help so we were able to convince the customer to pay my travel.  My co-worker Larry usually does it but his passport  was expiring and he knew how much I wanted to come -- so he told our boss that he sent it in for renewal so he couldn't go.

So that left me... 
At first I was worried.  I haven't done this work at a client but I knew I could pull it off.  So that's not a big deal.  I was worried that the french would be rude - (client) NOT AT ALL -- they are very friendly and easy to work with.
I was worried about not being able to eat.... Well - I must admit - I am tyring to make semi good choices - but I am walking my butt off - and the cheese and bread is my fav of the world.. so when in France!!! Oh La La.

Most of our work has been isolated near CDG airport so we hadn't seen the city - until last night .  OMG -- I was completely and utterly jittered.. I couldn't believe the nervousness - anticipation.  It really was a dream to come true to come out of the RER train and see the Arc de Triomphe -- WTF?  Where was I -- not in TX any more little girl.  
No matter how much Dior Makeup - Tahari suits I buy - I am still a TX girl with a donkey and a pickup - but today - I was in Paris!  I still just want to cry. 
Thank GOD for this surgery.  If I had come before now - before 1 yr post op - I would have not been prepared emotionally for this trip.  These people are all thin.  (I don't know how with all the fat / bread they eat -)  But I believe they only eat 1 time a day - the rest of the time they drink expresso and smoke!
I was able to speak a little French  - but I as able to walk a lot and really  understand the lifestyle.

More to follow -

Wow - I haven't blogged in a while -- seems like life gets in the way.

Just over 10 months out and I am down to 168.   Who would have thought... 

I don't look the way I want - who ever does.  Shopping has been our main focus this last few days as my sister is here from Australia and she has to stock up on things that she can't get down there.  

It's been hard having her here... it always is.  We are just so different, yet so the same in some ways -   It's nice having her home, but at the same time, it's nice having her 15000 miles away.

My BMI is 25 now... wow - that's shocking.  I am starting to look at things differently now.  My mindset is changing for the better.  I am now starting to get adjusted to being normal sized.  Looking at pictures of myself now has been very helpful and enlightening.

I posted before the surgery about my riding and how important it was to get back in the show ring and be successful... well I have met that goal.  
The first week in May, I took Java to a show.  It was very enlightening.  I learned a lot about myself, my riding and how far a person can go without hitting the wall.  I had never really found that "how tired" wall... but at  that show - I sure did.  Wow - 
I did well with my scores and placing, but more than anything - I learned I can do even better!!!  I can be the best out there!  There is NOTHING that will hold me back any more.  
I have began re-learning some basic fundamentals about my riding that will get me over the humps.  Fix my position, my hands and I'll be all set.  It's coming!  The last 2 weeks have been amazing!  What a good boy Java has been.

Everyone have a safe and happy holiday and keep reaching up --- if nothing else - the stretching is good for your back!

Hey Everyone - 

It's been a LONG time sinc I have been online.  I have been extremely busy with work, however it's slowing down and we made it over the humps.

I have lost 115 in 6 months -- which is astounding to me.  I am almost NORMAL now and feel great.  

Food is no longer the demon and I do what I can.  My blood work was great and the Dr. thinks I am about 30 lbs from goal.  That's exciting...

Hope all is well -- Check out new pix from the cruise.  I need to update my profile pix with one from the cruise - but I need to scan it in.

Hope everyone is well.

9/17/06

Have been so busy lately - sorry I haven posted.
We have been really swamped at the farm / work etc. I have been putting up new fence and working on new proposals etc.
Things have been good as far as the WLS goes. I am not sleeping much however I am going to my GP to ask for something for that. My mom says I am a lot more Hyper than I used to be (oh no!)
I have lost almost 70 lbs in total and about 42 in about 8 weeks since my surgery -- wow - I was hoping to be a little faster, but I am happy with this.

I have had several great wow moments lately - I bought a size 16 jacket to wear to my new customer -- that's saying something!
So I know it's coming off.

Here are some pix of my hubby - he is 5 months Post op today and he is almost down 100 lbs. As a reward - he bought a new baby! Good for him!












8/10/06
Sorry for not updating in a while -- it's been an interesting couple of weeks. I have felt really good - no pain, no soreness or anything! Only Dizzy - and light headed... major
I am still on squishy foods although I am working a little soft foods. A lot of shaved turkey and scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes. Tomorrow is my post op appt - so hopefully the food will now come.

I have had some great WOW moments lately. I actually had to go out of town and I didn't get upgraded - but boy the coach seat was much more comfortable, as well as I looked in the mirror and saw a thinner (not thin) but not bloated me... That was kinda neat.
Everyone at my client said I look good - and they can tell a difference.

I had one Major problem last week - Everyone kept telling me that the Dizziness would subside, and I would feel better, but I didn't. Last Thursday, I woke up and was sooo light headed I almost passed out. I took my BP and it was 90/50 (and I am NEVER low). I asked Paul to take me to the Dr. and my BP was 80/40 when I got to the office, and when they tried to take it when I stood up - it was NON-detectable! Needless to say - I was severely dehydrated. The BP meds I USED to take was causing all the liquid to just pass through me... I should have known there was a problem when I was losing 2 lbs an HOUR a couple of days before.
Dr gave me a refill of 2.5 litres of fluids and I felt way better --- and STOPPED the BP meds. I feel fine now

Hope to update soon - but work is gonna start getting crazy - enough time off for me!

DH has lost almost 80lbs -- he is about 30-40 lbs from goal -- I am so proud of him.



7-22-06
Well - I am home... It was rather an uneventful surgery so I am told. I don't remember much - thats good. The pain meds make me really nauseous, so I am reluctant to take them. I have been walking a lot but it's hard to walk outside when it's 108 degrees. I have been trying to do what I need to inside.

Dr. gave me Loritab elixar and it made me really sick - so he gave me the pill and it sat better in my tummy, but when it wears off, I get a heck of a head ache. Today I can take my Zyrtec so hopefully I will feel better.
Per the hospital - I weighed 275 when I checked in, and when I left it was 283... So I guess I gained 8lbs in fluids. Not sure what starting number I should use, but I guess I will still use my highest weight.

DH has been a saint, I am thankful for him and my mom being here.

I haven't eaten much at all - not sure I am supposed to. I did eat a little cream soup and jello at the hospital, and our Dr. lets us have a couple of saltines on the liquid diet. They sat well. I had a bit of a fever yesterday that had me really feeling icky but I think I kicked it.

Will update more soon. Glad to be back at the keyboard!



7-17-06
It's been really strange the last few weeks. It's so hard to stay focused! All I want to be doing is recovering and getting ready to be on the losing side. I have done pretty well about getting ready, however I seem to be exhausted and really moody -- it doesn't help that I have been incredibly busy at work... oh well.

This is the week -- only 48 hours more!
My mom will be here tonight - thank goodness -- as much as I love my husband - he has been kind of moody lately as I have -- and not really shall we say... 'supportive'!!.

Our horse clubs had their regional championship this past weekend. I saw a lot of people I hadn't seen for a while. A couple of folks had mentioned that I had lost weight already... as I have lost about 25-30 lbs (it depends on the day!) But that was nice that they noticed!
I am so excited about possibly showing next year. Everyone always asks me why I haven't been showing, and it's just that at this weight - I am just not able to compete at the level I expect me and my horse to be at. This is one of the main reasons I am doing this.

I love riding, I really want to show, depsite the fact that I get nervous....Primarily b/c I know I have to work twice as hard b/c of my weight. So - next year - I am shooting for Regionals and possibly national championships. We have one of the toughest regions, and if you can do well at Region 9 you can usually go top 10 nationally if not better.... but we have a lot of work to do before that. My trainer and her daughter took home 3 Regional Champions and 2 Reserve champs... they are phenomenal...*her daugher is 11 yrs old and BEAT all the adults! I am very proud of her.

I am really strung out about my stuff with my dad.. He is just so ... rude. I am going to see Dr. Therapist today before my surgery wrap my head around it. Hopefully I can resolve some stuff before Wednesday!..

DH is 3 months out and has lost (wait - let me get the calculator...74lbs....) some may be water as he was really sweating this weekend... He is down to 236 - very proud of him.

Well - Sorry for the long vent... See ya on the other side!

Thanks to all for the well wishes on my surgery....




6/22/06
Well - it's been an emotional month. Aetna came back and said I did not qualify - denied.
The main reason was in 2002 I had actually had a bit of success (I lost about 1/2 of what I needed to) and my BMI dropped below the 40. Well - my surgeon --- God Love him-- and his coordinator worked through all the paper work and did a Peer to Peer review. The criteria was at least 5 years. It didn't say anything about CONSECUTIVE years.
Finally after 2 more weeks of review and giving it to another dr. at Aetna - they approved it!

I learned a couple valuable lessons through this.
1. *Don't take any thing for granted -- I thought I was a shoe in- however they find a way to humble you.
2. Patience -- if you don't succeed - keep trying - persistence pays off.

So now I am scheduled for 7/19!!! I can't wait.

Hubby has done wonderfully - he is right at 50# in 8 weeks and he feels better than he has in years...
This surgery has been a blessing for him, and I hope I come out with as wonderful of results as he has.




5/22/06
I guess this is the first time I am updating my profile --
Hope this is right!

I had my final 3 month visit with Dr. Stewart on Thursday. They informed me that the letter to Aetna would go out Friday / Monday 5/22 - so now I am waiting. Their coordinator indicated that Aetna could take 1 day to 3 months. UGH! I can't wait another 3 months.

Paul has done well. His surgery was on 4/17 and he has lost 34lbs. It's hard when he weighs less than I do now.

Will update when there is more to tell.

Photos

299 OH MY GOSH