Wow - So Time Really Does Fly!

Aug 07, 2011

I've received some messages from people asking questions and I've responded, but today I checked my messages, which I haven't done for months, and saw that I had a new message from a few days ago from a lady getting ready to start her journey and it prompted me to look back through my pics and read my blog. I cannot believe how bad I've been at updating stuff.  I went right from my two months post-RNY post to my six days pre-tummy tuck post, then nothing! 

So much has happened.  I hit my goal weight on August 18, 2008 and had to gain a few pounds to not look sick.  Have maintained my weight since then, right where my surgeon wanted me.  I did have my appendix removed last month and lost another 15 pounds, but I don't look sick this time, so I'm good with staying here.  So far hasn't been hard to maintain, but I'd noticed right before my surgery that I was eating more carbs and less protein, so I changed that around the same time as my appendix decided it needed to come out.  So, not sure if the surgery affected me or the change in eating habits, but I'm able to maintain it, so I'm happy.

My tummy tuck turned out really well.  Had a little problem the first week, well small problem, but extremely painful.  Found out at my 1-week check-up that it was a stitch that was directly in my muscle so it was pulling on the muscle when I tried to stand up.  Surgeon removed it right there at the check-up and the relief was immediate.  I didn't really have any pain and was back to work after a week off and two days of working at home.  I posted some pre-op pics for awhile even though I didn't update my blog.  Now you can barely even see the scar.  My appendix surgeon is the same doctor (Dr. Hunter) who did my RNY and he told my husband that my tummy tuck scar was barely visible and looked like the doctor who did it had done an excellent job.  I still have some spots that are numb to touch them, but if I bump up against something, I can feel it deeper inside so I know I've hit something.  Kinda strange, but it's gotten much better over the past six months.  I was pretty much numb from my new belly button to just under the scar up until six months ago, then the numbness has gone to just a few tiny spots.  Speaking of belly button - I have one that I can actually see!!!  It had been forever since I'd seen my old one.  Never even thought about that until I had a new one I could look at.  It kinda stuck out al little, though, but was okay.  I noticed after my appendectomy which meant they had to cut in through my new belly button again, that now it doesn't stick out.  My husband said my surgeon said he hoped I wouldn't be upset that they had to mess with the belly button, but I'm thrilled, it looks like a regular one now - inside and doesn't look puffy and stuck out anymore! 

So, in my goals I had written about before, one of them was whitewater rafting with my sister.  Finally did it.  My nephew became a certified whitewater rafting guide and he took my sister, a friend of hers with her family, and me out on the Wenatchee River (class 3) near Leavenworth, WA two weekends ago.  It was the most amazing thing I've ever done.  I'm totally hooked and we're all planning on doing it again in September on the Tieton River (near Yakima, WA).  And I accomplished my swimming goal that same day.  They let people who want to stand on the front of the raft and the others row and spin the raft and you see if you can hang on.  I hung on for a couple minutes, then flew off into the river.  I had to find my oar and swim back to the raft and I was so excited I kept laughing and swallowing water and popping back up and laughing.  My sister thought I'd drown before I quit laughing.  My nephew jumped in and saved me and I was still laughing!  It was the most freeing feeling I've had in a long time!  Oh, it was just so absolutely amazing I don't think I'll ever get over that feeling!!

My husband and I took vacation for a week and a half and we're building a fence for my puppy love.  He's discovered where the garbage truck comes and goes from and now goes out to the main road to watch for it, so he's on restriction and can only be outside when we are.  Which means we have to sit outside and watch him wander around when he decides he wants to chase bugs and stuff.  So, fencing in the back acre for him to be able to go out by himself and roam around.  He loves to go up in the trees and dig into the dirt and lay in it, so now he can get back to that without having us make him come back in the house.  During this work it's really hit me how far I've come.  I could have never done this and helped my husband with it before I lost weight.  My blood pressure was so high I was having dizzy spells, seeing bright lights and having everything go black and that was just from walking from my car to my office and back or walking too much at work.  Now I am able to help him - I've done everything from packing lumber up the hill at the back of our property, digging post holes with a manual post hole digger and breaker bar, using the sledge hammer to put in line marker poles, bending over repeatedly to stain the 2000 fence boards (we decided to pre-stain rather than spray once they were up).  He can still carry more than me, but I can keep going longer than he can!  It feels SOOO good!

Well, I guess that's enough for now.  I'll have to post pics of my tummy tuck results when I get some new pics.  It's barely visible, except now it has an inch-long new scar from my appendectomy right along the tuck scar.  But that will go away, too.  Right now I'm going to post pics of my whitewater rafting trip!

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